Efforts Continue to Open Japan’s Market for Fresh U.S. Potato Exports, Potentially Boosting Idaho Growers and the National Potato Industry
The U.S. potato industry is intensifying efforts to gain access to Japan’s market for fresh potatoes, a move that could significantly boost exports and support American growers. Although Japan is a major importer of processed potatoes from the U.S., the country has long restricted imports of fresh U.S. potatoes. This has been a source of ongoing frustration for U.S. potato growers and industry leaders, who see Japan as a valuable market for fresh produce.
Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council (NPC), emphasized the importance of this issue in a recent discussion with the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. “It’s a big market for processed potatoes, and we also received access for chipping potatoes about three years ago. But there is no fresh table stock potato access,” Quarles noted. He estimates that if Japan opens its market to fresh U.S. potatoes, exports could rise by approximately 10%, contributing an additional USD 150 million per year to the U.S. potato industry.
For Idaho potato growers, who lead the nation in total potato production, gaining access to Japan’s fresh potato market would offer substantial benefits. Idaho produces about 6.35 million tons of potatoes annually, representing roughly one-third of the nation’s total potato supply. “We love markets to export to because that takes some of the pressure off our domestic supply. We think our Idaho brand would be well received in Japan,” said Jamey Higham, CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission.
The push for access to Japan’s fresh potato market is part of broader efforts by the U.S. potato industry to expand its export markets. According to a “Spud Nation” report by the NPC, approximately 20% of American potatoes are exported, generating an economic impact of nearly USD 4.8 billion and supporting around 34,000 jobs across the U.S. potato sector. Export markets play a crucial role in maintaining the industry’s economic health, and expanding access to markets like Japan is seen as essential for future growth.
The U.S. government has also been actively involved in lobbying for fresh potato access in Japan. In April, a bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators, including both of Idaho’s senators, sent a letter to the president urging continued pressure on Japan to allow fresh potato imports. The letter highlighted that access to Japan’s fresh potato market was first requested nearly three decades ago. Despite ongoing discussions, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Farming, and Fisheries (MAFF) has continued to delay substantive technical discussions on this issue, according to the letter.
Quarles, who attended the NPC’s annual bilateral meeting in Tokyo last year, criticized Japan’s prolonged delays in negotiations, attributing them to protectionism. “Japan has just stalled the negotiation. We have to maintain the pressure on them. There is no legitimate reason for them refusing to negotiate. It’s purely protectionism,” Quarles stated. He remains hopeful that ongoing diplomatic efforts, including an upcoming bilateral meeting between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and MAFF in Idaho Falls, will yield progress on this critical issue.
As the U.S. potato industry continues to press for access to Japan’s fresh potato market, the potential benefits are clear. Opening this market would not only boost exports for Idaho’s potato growers but also strengthen the entire U.S. potato industry, providing new opportunities for growth and economic impact.
