May/June 2020 - 30

Potatoes USA makes gains for US
seed sales in Guatemala
More U.S. growers,
POTATOES USA
Tiffany Thompson
Assistant International
Marketing Manager
including a new
exporter, are selling
seed potatoes to
Guatemala as a
result of Potatoes
USA programs
and support.
Through effective
activities aimed at
increasing demand
for U.S. seed, more
opportunities are
arising in Guatemala,
a target market in Potatoes USA's
International Seed Program.
One of the first seed program activities
this fiscal year (July 2019-June 2020) was
the International Seed Symposium, which
took place in August 2019. More than
10 countries, including Guatemala, were
represented at this educational event for
growers, importers and government officials.
At the symposium, international participants
met with U.S. potato industry members to
learn about the advantages of U.S. seed,
discuss the export process and see U.S.
seed potato operations.
Potatoes USA has conducted several
experimental and validation trials using U.S.
seed in Guatemala. FENAPAPA, a grower
association in Guatemala, established trials
at different farms to compare a few varieties
after sending a representative to the
symposium to learn about U.S. seed.
Guatemala's National Agriculture
Research Institute (ICTA) also coordinated
trials throughout different regions of the
country. Some of the best performing
varieties in these trials include Lamoka,
Jacqueline Lee, Defender, Golden Globe,
Gioconda, Chieftain and Purple Majesty.
GETTING RESULTS
In the fall of 2019, Potatoes USA
representatives conducted a market visit
to Guatemala. On this visit, they saw some
of the trial sites where U.S. potatoes
were growing, including FENAPAPA's
farms, and they attended a field day to
see the harvest at ICTA's experimental
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Spudman.com
Guatemala's National Agriculture Research Institute (ICTA) Field Day, where potatoes grown
from U.S. seed varieties were featured.
station. The representatives also met with
growers, importers, private businesses,
and government officials to discuss trial
outcomes and future purchases of U.S. seed.
All these efforts are materializing into
more purchases of U.S. seed potatoes. After
seeing the advantages of U.S. seed through
the International Seed Symposium and trials
in Guatemala:
* FENAPAPA plans to buy two containers of
Lamoka seed throughout 2020.
* ICTA also ordered two tons of Defender and
Lamoka seed based on trial successes.
Other Guatemalan growers have
worked with importers and Potatoes USA
to combine their orders of U.S. seed.
Combining smaller orders is helping to
offset shipping costs, allowing individual
growers to buy more U.S. seed.
Not only are Guatemalan growers pooling
together to make the purchase happen, but
U.S. growers from different states are working
together to fulfill the order. Multiple varieties,
including Defender, Lamoka, and Purple
Majesty, were requested. U.S. growers, with
the help of Potatoes USA, coordinated the
shipment to meet all the buyers' needs. One
of the growers is a first-time exporter and is
being mentored by Potatoes USA and fellow
growers through this process.
COVID-19 CHALLENGES
While there has been strong progress
made in the Guatemala market, the COVID-19
pandemic is creating new challenges. Events
planned to feature U.S. seed potato varieties,
such as Guatemala's National Potato Fair and
the International Horticulture Contest, were
postponed or canceled. Business has also
slowed due to temporary company closures
and government restrictions.
Potatoes USA plans to continue
educational events, training and market
visits when it is once again safe to do so, to
continue building on the momentum started
in Guatemala.
With the cooperative efforts of U.S. growers
and other industry members, Potatoes
USA plans to continue activities in all target
markets that will further increase demand
for U.S. potatoes. For additional information
on these activities or the Potatoes USA
International Seed Program, please contact
me at Tiffany@PotatoesUSA.com.

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May/June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May/June 2020