Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 30, 2003
Contact: Kirsten Kendrick, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136; Jed Lewison, Office of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, 206-819-8086;
Alt Contact: Linda Waring, Washington State Department of Agriculture, 360-902-1815; Karen Bonaudi, Washington State Potato Commission, 509-765-8845
Locke was instrumental in starting the talks that led to the historic agreement. During his trade mission to Mexico in 1999, the governor met with many high-level officials in the Mexican government, including then-President Ernesto Zedillo.
At that time, the Mexican government was preventing Washington state from shipping fresh potatoes to Mexico due to phytosanitary (plant health) concerns. In 2001, Locke urged the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) to begin direct talks with the Mexican government and the country’s potato industry in an effort to resolve these issues.
“This is proof that our trade missions pay off,” Locke said. “Face-to-face meetings are crucial for closing very important deals that benefit our state, as this agreement demonstrates. In these tough economic times, trade creates badly needed jobs and helps
stimulate our state’s economic growth. That’s why increased international trade is part of my economic recovery plan. We will continue to pursue these golden opportunities for our state.”
Cantwell’s trade mission to Mexico in February also helped solidify the historic agreement. “This is a great day for Washington state potato growers,” she said. “They fought hard for this victory. I look forward to continuing to work with our state’s potato growers on expanding market opportunities in Mexico and beyond.”
Valoria Loveland, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, praised the hard work of Locke and Cantwell. “We could not have opened the Mexican market for fresh Washington potatoes as quickly and effectively without the personal meetings the governor and senator had with Mexico’s senior officials and the potato industry,” Loveland said. “The governor set the stage for the opening of this market by creating a strategy involving grower-to-grower meetings and work with Mexican diplomats.”
Pat Boss, executive director of the WSPC, said, “We're obviously pleased that the two governments were finally able to reach an agreement. We've put considerable effort into opening this market and it's encouraging to see our shippers reacting so quickly to this new opportunity.”
Figures from the WSPC show that Washington growers have completed shipments of 3.4 million pounds of Washington state fresh potatoes to Mexico. The total value of the initial shipments exported in May is approximately $400,000. The varieties shipped have been Norkotahs and Russet Burbanks from the Columbia Basin.
The agreement between the U.S. and Mexico includes:
·A process and timeline for opening access to Mexican markets for fresh potatoes from the U.S.;
·The establishment of a phytosanitary inspection regime to enable shipment freedom, including the use of certified seed potatoes, applying sprout inhibitor, virus and disease inspection as well as providing appropriate documentation; and
·A commitment by U.S. and Mexican government officials to the principle of full-market access for fresh potatoes.
Washington is the second largest potato producing state in the country. In 2002, the industry harvested $514 million in potatoes, trailing only apples and milk as the leading agricultural product in Washington state. A 2001 Washington State University study concluded that the potato industry and related businesses helped create nearly 28,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual sales for Washington state.
Related Links:
- Governor's Web site
- Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Sen. Maria Cantwell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 30, 2003
Contact: Kirsten Kendrick, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136; Jed Lewison, Office of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, 206-819-8086;
Alt Contact: Linda Waring, Washington State Department of Agriculture, 360-902-1815; Karen Bonaudi, Washington State Potato Commission, 509-765-8845
Gov. Gary Locke, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell Applaud Historic Shipments of Fresh Washington Potatoes to Mexico
Gov. Gary Locke and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell have announced the historic first-ever shipments of fresh Washington potatoes to Mexico, which will help spur the state’s economy and create jobs. The shipments were made possible by a U.S.-Mexico bilateral agreement reached in March to open the Mexican market to Washington state fresh potatoes.Locke was instrumental in starting the talks that led to the historic agreement. During his trade mission to Mexico in 1999, the governor met with many high-level officials in the Mexican government, including then-President Ernesto Zedillo.
At that time, the Mexican government was preventing Washington state from shipping fresh potatoes to Mexico due to phytosanitary (plant health) concerns. In 2001, Locke urged the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) to begin direct talks with the Mexican government and the country’s potato industry in an effort to resolve these issues.
“This is proof that our trade missions pay off,” Locke said. “Face-to-face meetings are crucial for closing very important deals that benefit our state, as this agreement demonstrates. In these tough economic times, trade creates badly needed jobs and helps
stimulate our state’s economic growth. That’s why increased international trade is part of my economic recovery plan. We will continue to pursue these golden opportunities for our state.”
Cantwell’s trade mission to Mexico in February also helped solidify the historic agreement. “This is a great day for Washington state potato growers,” she said. “They fought hard for this victory. I look forward to continuing to work with our state’s potato growers on expanding market opportunities in Mexico and beyond.”
Valoria Loveland, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, praised the hard work of Locke and Cantwell. “We could not have opened the Mexican market for fresh Washington potatoes as quickly and effectively without the personal meetings the governor and senator had with Mexico’s senior officials and the potato industry,” Loveland said. “The governor set the stage for the opening of this market by creating a strategy involving grower-to-grower meetings and work with Mexican diplomats.”
Pat Boss, executive director of the WSPC, said, “We're obviously pleased that the two governments were finally able to reach an agreement. We've put considerable effort into opening this market and it's encouraging to see our shippers reacting so quickly to this new opportunity.”
Figures from the WSPC show that Washington growers have completed shipments of 3.4 million pounds of Washington state fresh potatoes to Mexico. The total value of the initial shipments exported in May is approximately $400,000. The varieties shipped have been Norkotahs and Russet Burbanks from the Columbia Basin.
The agreement between the U.S. and Mexico includes:
·A process and timeline for opening access to Mexican markets for fresh potatoes from the U.S.;
·The establishment of a phytosanitary inspection regime to enable shipment freedom, including the use of certified seed potatoes, applying sprout inhibitor, virus and disease inspection as well as providing appropriate documentation; and
·A commitment by U.S. and Mexican government officials to the principle of full-market access for fresh potatoes.
Washington is the second largest potato producing state in the country. In 2002, the industry harvested $514 million in potatoes, trailing only apples and milk as the leading agricultural product in Washington state. A 2001 Washington State University study concluded that the potato industry and related businesses helped create nearly 28,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual sales for Washington state.
Related Links:
- Governor's Web site
- Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Sen. Maria Cantwell
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