Oct 6, 2025Potatoes USA report finds seed export potential in Cuba
A recent seed potato update from Potatoes USA found export market potential in Cuba while noting export increases to Central and South America.
Cuba has the potential to become the largest export market for U.S. seed potatoes in the Americas outside of Canada, according to Potatoes USA. The country has average seed imports 331,738 cwt over the last five years but has a high bar for entering its market, requiring at least four years of trialing results for variety registration.
Three varieties sent to Cuba for trials arrived in November 2024 and were planted by Jan. 9, 2025, 45 days after arriving, Potatoes USA said. The average time from port to field in Cuba has been 55 days for the four previous trials the U.S. has successfully planted. The most recent trial was planted between Jan. 6-9, and harvested on April 1.
Yields were outstanding for Allegria, Soraya, and Golden Globe, despite the relatively short growing season of 81-84 days, Potatoes USA reported. They organization expressed optimism that “earlier planting will further increase the excellent results seen in this trial.”
This was the fourth variety trial for Golden Globe and the second for Eva, Soraya, and Alegria. Golden Globe was successfully registered, opening up Cuba to commercial sales of this variety.
Shipments of Soraya for further trials and Golden Globe for demonstration purposes are planned in October. Cuban officials have communication the potential to register Soraya after three years of trials, Potatoes USA said, meaning registration could be completed for this second variety after harvest in March 2026.
Central and South America update
Seed exports increased 61% from July 2024 to March 2025, driven by the resurgence of seed potatoes for the fresh market following decreased demand due to the pandemic.
Panama, Nicaragua and Uruguay all imported U.S. seed potatoes for the first time since the pandemic. Uruguay has been importing the variety Red Magic from France for several years, but French production issues led to an opportunity for U.S. seed suppliers to fill in the gap. There continues to be strong demand in Uruguay for new red-skinned seed potatoes and the standard variety, Chieftain, according to Potatoes USA.
Panama’s importation of the variety Soraya is the direct result of the 2023 Potatoes USA variety trials. The organization hopes sales will increase for Soraya and Golden Globe.
Nicaragua imported the variety Golden Globe after variety trials in 2023. Potatoes USA expects Golden Globe orders to increase and hopes to import other new varieties in the coming year.
Future trial plans
Potatoes USA is exploring the potential for trials in the Dominican Republic to expand beyond the chipping market (already receiving imports) to fresh market varieties. The organization also hopes to continue variety trials in Honduras to register new varieties.
An importer in Honduras, with assistance from Potatoes USA, is attempting to register the variety Sound. Sound was trialed successfully in six sites in Honduras in 2024. If Sound is registered in Honduras, the importer will try to import U.S.-produced Sound, a yellow variety with late blight resistance, later in 2025.
