b'NPC Takes Trust By Verify Approach With Mexican Market Reopeningby Kam Quarles, NPC Executive Vice President and CEOTellmeifyouveheardthisoneDuring a press availability after the before:Anagreementhasbeenmeeting,SecretaryVilsackcalled reachedbetweentheU.S.andMexico\'s agreement to live up to its Mexicotofinallyandcompletelytrade obligations to allow U.S. pota-reopen the Mexican market to U.S.toes full access by May 15 the "most fresh and process potatoes.significant" announcement from his visit with this Mexican counterpart. While we are not spiking the foot-ball yet, USDA has made significantThe announcement also came close-progress in getting us across the goally on the heels of an NPC-supported line. bipartisanletterissuedbyU.S. SenatorsJimRisch(R-Idaho)and InearlyApril,U.S.SecretaryofAngusKing(I-Maine),U.S. AgricultureTomVilsackmetwithCongressmenMikeSimpson(R-NPCMexico Secretary of Agriculture andIdaho)andKurtSchrader(D-RuralDevelopmentVictorOregon),and30oftheircongres-VillalobosinMexicotodiscussasionalcolleaguescallingonUSDA numberoftheirsharedpriorities.topressitscounter-agencyin MessageDiscussionsfocusedonagricultureMexico to honor and expedite the trade, science-based policy making,U.S.-Mexicotradedealrestoring andsustainableandclimate-smartU.S. fresh potato exports to Mexico.agricultural production.Inresponsetothenewsoutof MostnotablyfortheU.S.potatoMexico, we at the National Potato industry, at the conclusion of theirCouncilextendedourthanks meetings,SecretariesVilsackandSecretaryVilsackandtheteamsat VillalobosjointlyannouncedtheUSDA and USTR for their efforts to twocountrieshadconcludedallensurethatMexicolivesuptoits necessaryplanthealthprotocolsbilateral trade obligations. However, and,pendingafinalvisitbygiventhehistoryofthis25-year MexicanofficialstoCaliforniaintrade dispute, we are reserving the April,theentireMexicanmarketright to declare victory until we see would be open no later than Maydurableexportsofbothfreshpro-15 for all U.S. table stock and chip- cessingandtablestockpotatoes ping potatoes. move throughout all of Mexico, as 8 POTATO GROWER MAY/JUNE 2022'