After King Push, Mexico Resumes Importation of U.S. Potatoes

BRUNSWICK, ME - U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today celebrated an announcement that Mexico has resumed the importation of fresh U.S. potatoes, restoring $150 million in annual revenue for U.S. potato farmers. The popular crop - sourced from states across the country - has been subject to years of trade disputes and legal proceedings that limited the imports of potatoes to a 26-kilometer border zone within Mexico. Increased exports of fresh U.S. potatoes will open up additional space for Maine potatoes on U.S. store shelves and offers a potential future market option for Maine potato growers. Today's announcement comes on the heels of a bipartisan push from Senator King urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to resolve the dispute.

"Maine's potato industry is among our state's most well-known and historic industries, and any disagreement that harms one part of the sector impacts all of us. For generations, our potato farmers have supported good jobs across Northern Maine's communities and shipped our unbeatable potatoes around the globe," said Senator King. "As the industry now experiences one of its most successful harvests in years, there are opportunities for these Maine's potato growers and others across the country to reach new markets. I'm glad that leaders in Mexico and at the USDA heard our calls to resume normal potato trade relations, which will help bolster potato farmers in Maine and across the country."

"The Maine Potato Board appreciates all the hard work of the National Potato Council, USDA, Potatoes USA, and Senator King on opening up the additional markets for U.S. potatoes," said Donald Flannery, Executive Director of the Maine Potato Board. "Any time that we can increase markets for U.S. potatoes, all our growing areas including Maine benefit."

The U.S. potato industry estimates that this access for U.S. fresh potatoes to all of Mexico will provide a market potential of $200 million per year, in five years. This is an increase of $150 million from the current export value of $50 million. The Maine potato industry currently supports over 500 businesses generating nearly $300 million in annual sales, employing over 2,600 people, and providing over $112 million in income to Maine residents. The industry's direct sales of $293 million create an indirect impact back through its chain of suppliers amounting to another $179 million in sales and an additional 2,400 jobs.

Senator King has been a staunch supporter of Maine's potato industry. Along with calling for the resumption of U.S. potato exports to Mexico, King has secured more than $500,000 in federal funding for the University of Maine's Potato Research Program, and introduced the AG RESEARCH Actto support potato and other agricultural research across the country.