Japan is a significant market for U.S. processed potatoes, but as we’ve discussed a few times on this program, no U.S. fresh potatoes are allowed in Japan. The U.S. potato industry has been seeking approval to ship U.S. fresh potatoes into this significant market for over 20 years but the Japanese government continues to drag its heels. 

However, on Sept. 16, USDA and their counterparts in Japan are taking part in a bilateral meeting in Idaho Falls to discuss this issue. 

NPC CEO Kam Quarles and Sam Eaton Vice President of Legal & Government Affairs at the Idaho Potato Commission called in to the podcast to talk about what’s happening next month and how the potato industry and their allies in Congress are keeping the pressure on both USDA and Japan.

This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.