Potato Review

Senators applaud Mexico’s Full Market Access for potatoes SENATORS in Idaho, in the US, have publicly welcomed USDA’s recent announcement that Mexico is granting full market access for US fresh potatoes, with the first shipment into Mexico coming from Idaho, stating that it is a positive step towards resolving a long-standing dispute. Idaho Senators U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued statements after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Mexico is granting full market access for U.S. fresh potatoes, with the first shipment into Mexico coming from Idaho. Mike Crapo said: “While this is a positive development, we must continue to monitor Mexico’s compliance with USMCA to ensure every aspect is fully enforced and the agreement lives up to its full potential.” Jim Risch added: “Potato growers in Idaho and across the country were promised meaningful market access more than 15 years ago, and Mexico has a responsibility to make good on its pledge to our farmers.” While Mexico is the largest market for US potatoes, until now, imports of fresh U.S. potatoes have been limited to a roughly 16 mile area along the US-Mexico border. The US and Mexico reached an agreement late last year to expand market access for US potatoes, something that the United States has actively sought for more than 15 years. The National Potato Council (NPC) estimates full market potential for fresh table potatoes could reach $250 million a year. www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2022 47 INTERNATIONAL NEWS Genetic engineering of potato starch opens doors to industrial uses TEXAS A&M AgriLife scientists are learning how to alter the ratio of potatoes’ two starch molecules – amylose and amylopectin – to increase both culinary and industrial applications. Waxy potatoes, which are high in amylopectin content, have applications in the production of bioplastics, food additives, adhesives and alcohol. Two articles recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences and the Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture journals outline how CRISPR technology can advance the uses of the world’s largest vegetable crop. Cutting disease down to size A NEW machine could o er a solution for minimising spread of disease during seed tuber cutting, it has been claimed. Many growers cut seed tubers to increase seed availability for planting but the practice poses a risk of mechanical transmission of diseases caused by bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. For example, bacterial ring rot is a disease with zero resistance and spread of the disease can occur during seed tuber cutting operations. Manufacturers currently disinfect seed cutting equipment between seed lots using chlorine or quaternary ammonium compounds. While this practice is e ective in containing the spread of the disease between seed lots, there is a constant risk of disease transmission when tubers are cut. Tyler Thompson (former Farm Manager at the San Louis Valley Research Center) worked with Ronald Price (Research Farm Technician at the San Louis Valley Research Center) to develop a Flame Sterilizing Potato Seed Tuber Cutting Machine. Most expensive food product in Tatarstan POTATOES have seen the biggest price rise of a number of food products that have risen in price in Tatarstan in East Russia. Tatarstan State Statistics Service reported that potatoe prices rose by 8,46%, with apples rising by 3,02%, bananas rising by 1,91%, and butter and sunflower oil increasing by 1,29% and 1,02%, respectively. Frozen roundfish, sugar, milk, rye and rye-wheat bread also rose in price. At the beginning of May, the price of the most expensive product, potatoes, was 54,36 rubles, while on May 20th it reached 60,83 rubles. In April of this year, annual inflation in Tatarstan was 18,59% after 18,08% in March. This is lower than in the Volga Federal District, where it was 18,79%, but higher than in Russia as a whole — 17,83%. The annual increase in food prices in Tatarstan accelerated to 21,45% after 18,91% in March.