Jan 26, 2026Industry advocates applaud expanded South Korean market access
Potato industry advocates heralded South Korea’s decision to expand market access to U.S. table stock and chipping potatoes from 11 additional states.
The Jan. 26 announcement allows growers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wisconsin to export table stock and chipping potatoes to the country.
Previously, only fresh and chipping potato growers from Idaho, Oregon and Washington were able to access the Korean market.
The South Korean market for U.S. fresh potatoes is valued between $12 million and $20 million annually, a figure historically constrained by quotas and limited state eligibility, according to the National Potato Council. While total U.S. potato exports to Korea exceed $150 million, NPC said the fresh market represents significant untapped potential.
“This announcement marks the culmination of 19 years of persistence by the dedicated team at USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine, NPC, our state and national partner organizations, our market access advisors at Bryant Christie Inc., and the entire administration,” said NPC Vice President of Trade Affairs Brett Jensen, a potato grower from Idaho. “Although this process began in 2007, our industry and government partners never wavered in their commitment to delivering this result for American growers.”
By granting access to major chipping states, including Michigan, North Dakota and Wisconsin, the U.S. is better positioned to supply the Korean market during its newly established year-long duty-free access for U.S. chipping potatoes, agreed to under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) 15 years ago, according to NPC.
A 2024 economic impact study by Michigan State University modeled a conservative 10% increase in exports resulting from this expansion.
The expanded access arrives at a critical moment for the industry. According to recent data from the American Farm Bureau Federation, U.S. potato growers currently face extreme financial losses due to high input costs and market instability.
