USA: Potatoes USA to Host About 50 Foreign Buyers From 10 Markets at Pasco Showcase on 21 October
Potatoes USA will hold a U.S. Potato Showcase in Pasco, Washington, on 21 October 2026, with about 50 buyers from 10 export markets. U.S. potato export value fell 6.3% in 2025/26.
Potatoes USA will bring about 50 international potato buyers from 10 key export markets to Pasco, Washington, in October. The organization announced the U.S. Potato Showcase on 23 September 2026 as part of its 2026 reverse trade mission.
According to Potatoes USA, the showcase will take place on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center in Pasco. Growers, processors, exporters, suppliers and state potato organizations can register online. Potatoes USA says there is no cost to take part other than travel to Pasco. The announcement does not name the 10 markets.
The organization says the event lets U.S. companies meet current and possible customers directly and build relationships that can support future exports.
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Exports have lost value
The mission comes after a weaker export year. In the July 2025 to June 2026 marketing year, U.S. potato exports reached $2.17 billion, down 6.3%, Potatoes USA reported on 1 September. Volume fell 4.8% to 2.99 million metric tons in fresh weight equivalent.
Frozen products remained the largest category, with 1.38 million tons worth $1.33 billion. Fresh potato exports grew 14.9% in volume to 706,152 tons, and chip exports grew 8.4% to 193,916 tons. Mexico was the largest market by volume with 671,567 tons. Japan was the largest by value with $500.9 million. The Americas took 52.5% of export volume and the Asia-Pacific region 43.5%.
Reverse trade missions are a regular tool for Potatoes USA. In 2024, the organization hosted 53 importers, distributors and retailers from Central America, Asia, Mexico and the Gulf states. That program included farm, storage and processing plant tours in Washington and Oregon.
Why it matters
With total export value down, direct contact with foreign buyers is one way for U.S. suppliers to hold or win market share. Pasco is one of the Tri-Cities in Washington, where the 2024 mission watched the harvest, so buyers can see the supply chain close to the fields.
For smaller growers and suppliers, the free format lowers the cost of meeting importers. The results of such missions usually show only later, in contracts and export data.
Photo: Potato field in the United States, archive photo (illustrative). The Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
