Mexican ag officials visit Colorado for potato site audit
Officials from the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) of Mexico visited the Allied Potato site in Colorado last week as a requirement of the 2022 agreement opening the Mexican market to U.S. fresh potato exports.
Colorado’s San Luis Valley played host to a potato site audit for five senior plant health officials from the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) of Mexico last week.
The visit to the Allied Potato site fulfilled of a requirement of the 2022 agreement opening the Mexican market to U.S. fresh potato exports. The SENASICA officials joined USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. potato industry representatives in visiting potato fields and four potato sheds that regularly ship to Mexico.
Jason Davenport (left to right), Allied Potato Inc. president, joins Mark Davidson, USDA Deputy Administrator for Plant Protection and Quarantine, Francisco Ramirez, general director of Plant Health of the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) of Mexico, and Walter Gutierrez, plant pathologist at USDA-APHIS, at a potato site audit. Photo: Courtesy of NPC
The Mexican officials also spoke to U.S. growers and shippers about how they comply with requirements involving issues such as packaging, growing practices, and pest management. Shipping records were also reviewed.
“We welcomed this opportunity to demonstrate the serious efforts the U.S. potato industry is undertaking to make the program a success,” Ted Tschirky, National Potato Council vice president of trade affairs, said in a news release. “We look forward to continuing to build relationships with Mexican customers and consumers as we send nutritious, high quality U.S. fresh potatoes to this growing market.”