Dec 21, 2017South Korea re-opens market to US table stock
Earlier in December, 2017, the South Korean government announced the reopening of its market for table stock potatoes from the Pacific Northwest states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The market had been closed since July 2012 over technical concerns.
Since that time, the National Potato Council said the U.S. potato industry worked with USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the South Korean government to address the issues raised by Korea.
Exports from the Pacific Northwest will need to follow the newly established guidelines agreed to between the two governments, with U.S. table stock exports now able to take advantage of the 3,583 metric ton quota established for 2018.
The South Korean chipping potato market remains open for Pacific Northwest potatoes. Some adjustments to the existing chipping potato protocol to Korea also occurred in conjunction with publication of the new table stock agreement. U.S. exports of chipping potatoes to Korea have reached over $8 million annually in recent years. NPC said efforts are underway to have additional U.S. potato producing states approved for export to Korea.