b'People, Product NewsNPC Welcomes Year-Round NPCandtheentireU.S.potato largest export market with exportsAccess For U.S. Chipping industryappreciatesthediligent totalingover$350millioninthePotatoes To Japan workofUSDAAnimalandPlant past year. In 2019, the U.S. exportedHealthInspectionService(APHIS) 32,240metrictonsoffreshchip-JapansMinistryofAgriculture, andForeignAgriculturalService ping potatoes, valued at more thanFisheriesandForestry(MAFF)has (FAS) staff to secure this increased $15 million, to Japan. informed USDA that U.S. chipping access, said NPC Vice President ofpotatoeswillbeallowedtoenter TradeAffairsJaredBalcom.Year- Theannouncementclarifiesthatyear-round, as of Feb. 14, 2020.roundaccessforU.S.freshchip- thefollowingstateshavebeenstock potatoes will deepen our rela- approved to ship fresh potatoes forPreviously, the import protocol for tionship with our number one trad- processingtoJapan:Arizona,U.S.chippingpotatoesstateswas ing partner and support the contin- California,Colorado,Florida,from Feb. 1 to July 30 each year. The uedgrowthoftheU.S.potato Idaho,Maine,Michigan,Minn-new language state that U.S. chip- industry. esota,Montana,Nevada,Newpingpotatoescanenterallyear Mexico,NorthDakota,Oregon,round. Japan is the U.S. potato industrys Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.MARCH 2020 POTATO GROWER 29'