Initiatives increase US potato sales, exports in competitive Middle East region

Federal outreach is helping drive the popularity of U.S. potatoes in a key region of the Middle East, according to recently released data from Potatoes USA.

USDA market access program initiatives increased sales of U.S. potatoes in the United Arab Emirates by 31% and increased the overall export volume of fresh potatoes to the country by 27.1% from July 2023-June 2024, according to a news release from Potatoes USA.

The national potato marketing and research organization partnered with Spinney Supermarkets, an upscale chain with 65 UAE locations, in 2021. From July 2023-June 2024, that effort included social media outreach, point-of-sale displays and in-store sampling.

Sales of U.S. potatoes climbed 73% in that time period, according to Potatoes USA, while fresh export volume reached 1,162.6 metric tons valued at $1.1 million.

Spinney’s recently expanded in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council’s largest economy. The expansion “presents significant, sustainable growth opportunities for U.S. potato exports in the region,” according to Potatoes USA.