WASHINGTON D.C. – The National Potato Council (NPC) welcomes today’s announcement by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regarding expanded market access in South Korea. Effective Jan. 23, 2026, the agreement allows growers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wisconsin to export table stock and chipping potatoes to the South Korean market.
“We thank the Administration for this landmark trade achievement. This announcement marks the culmination of 19 years of persistence by the dedicated team at USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine, NPC, our state and national partner organizations, our market access advisors at Bryant Christie Inc., and the entire Administration,” said NPC Vice President of Trade Affairs Brett Jensen, a potato grower from Idaho. “Although this process began in 2007, our industry and government partners never wavered in their commitment to delivering this result for American growers.”
Previously, only fresh and chipping potato growers from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington were able to access the Korean market.
Currently, the South Korean market for U.S. fresh potatoes is valued between $12 million and $20 million annually, a figure historically constrained by quotas and limited state eligibility. While total U.S. potato exports to Korea exceed $150 million, the fresh market represents significant untapped potential.
This agreement expands the portion of the U.S. potato crop eligible for export to Korea. By granting access to major chipping states, including Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, the U.S. is better positioned to supply the Korean market during its newly established year-long duty-free access for U.S. chipping potatoes, agreed to under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) 15 years ago and now finally fully implemented in 2026.
A 2024 economic impact study by Michigan State University modeled a conservative 10% increase in exports resulting from this expansion.
This expanded access arrives at a critical moment for the industry. According to recent data from the American Farm Bureau Federation, U.S. potato growers currently face extreme financial losses due to high input costs and market instability. Opening new export channels helps alleviate some of that economic burden for growers in these vital production areas.
Expanding international markets remains a top priority for NPC. During the upcoming 2026 NPC Washington Summit, Feb. 23-26, NPC leadership, growers, and industry partners will emphasize the importance of new trade opportunities to administration and elected officials. With the U.S. agricultural trade deficit projected to rise, securing new market access is essential to maintaining the industry’s $100 billion contribution to the U.S. economy.
