b'AgricultureResearchInstitute(ICTA)alsocoordinatedtrialsthroughout different regions of thecountry. Some of the best perform-ing varieties in these trials include;Lamoka,JacquelineLee,Defender,Golden Globe, Gioconda, Chieftain,and Purple Majesty.Inthefallof2019,PotatoesUSArepresentatives conducted a marketvisittoGuatemala.Onthisvisit,theysawsomeofthetrialsiteswhereU.S.potatoesweregrowing,includingFENAPAPAsfarms,andthey attended a field day to see theharvest at ICTAs experimental sta- Guatemalas National Agriculture Research Institute (ICTA) Field Day, wheretion.Therepresentativesalsomet potatoes grown from U.S. seed varieties were featuredwithgrowers,importers,private moreU.S.seed.Notonlyare InternationalHorticultureContest,businesses,andgovernmentoffi- Guatemalangrowerspooling werepostponedorcanceled.cialstodiscusstrialoutcomesand together to make the purchase hap- Business has also slowed due to tem-future purchases of U.S. seed. pen, but U.S. growers from different porarycompanyclosuresandgov-states are working together to fulfill ernmentrestrictions.PotatoesUSAAlltheseeffortsarematerializing the order. Multiple varieties, includ- planstocontinueeducationalintomorepurchasesofU.S.seed ingDefender,Lamoka,andPurple events, trainings, and market visitspotatoes.Afterseeingtheadvan- Majesty, were requested. U.S. grow- when it is once again safe to do so,tagesofU.S.seedthroughthe ers, with the help of Potatoes USA, tocontinuebuildingontheInternational Seed Symposium and coordinatedtheshipmenttomeet momentum started in Guatemala.trialsinGuatemala,FENAPAPA allthebuyersneeds.Oneoftheplanstobuytwocontainersof growers is a first-time exporter and With the cooperative efforts of U.S.Lamoka seed throughout this year. is being mentored by Potatoes USA growersandotherindustrymem-ICTA also ordered two tons total of andfellowgrowersthroughthis bers, Potatoes USA plans to contin-Defender and Lamoka seed based on process. ueactivitiesinalltargetmarketstheir trials successes.thatwillfurtherincreasedemandWhiletherehasbeenstrong forU.S.potatoes.ForadditionalOtherGuatemalangrowershave progressmadeintheGuatemala informationontheseactivitiesorworked with importers and Potatoes market, the COVID-19 pandemic is the Potatoes USA International SeedUSA to combine their orders of U.S. creatingnewchallenges.Events Program,pleasecontactTiffanyseed.Combiningsmallerordersis planned to feature U.S. seed potato Thompson at [email protected], varieties,suchasGuatemalas com.allowing individual growers to buy NationalPotatoFairandtheMAY/JUNE 2020 POTATO GROWER 7'