Central America Market Update

Potatoes USA Marketing Operations Director Amy Burdett provides a market update to Central America.

Burdett: "Well in Central America, because of our proximity we are can ship seed quicker than other suppliers and fresh potatoes and potato products as well. In those markets we have a Potato USA representative that looks at our international markets and covers all of the Central America. We have not only someone on the ground who can talk to buyers but have had programs in several specific countries in the seed program in most of Central America we have introduce seed. So one country would try it and would give it good results so we would know what kind of varieties and what kind of conditions we would introduce to the next market. On positive in Central America, this year the Costa Rican government reopened market access to U.S. chipping potatoes that had been closed for several years due to a finding. We were able to negotiate the market back open. So that should be something that we have additional sales this year when things can get started."