Published 1:12 pm Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Potato fresh-pack operations. Fresh potatoes posted growth of 14.9% in volume and 6.8% in value in the July 2025-June 2026 marketing year.
(Idaho Farm Bureau Federation/Contributed)
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U.S. potato exports in the July 2025-June 2026 marketing year totaled 2.99 metric tons valued at $2.17 billion.
Volume on a fresh-equivalent basis declined 4.8% while value was down 6.3%, Potatoes USA reported. The national marketing organization used U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Division data.
The fresh category posted growth of 14.9% in volume and 6.8% in value. Fresh potatoes comprised 23.6% of export compared to 19.6% in the year-earlier period.
Frozen potato products remained the biggest export category, accounting for 46.3% of volume.
More than half of U.S. potato export value in 2025-26 came from Mexico, Canada and Japan combined Metric tonnage was 671,567 from Mexico, 642,330 from Canada and 624,391 from Japan
Idaho experience
“While the overall U.S. export results reported by Potatoes USA reflect a challenging global marketplace, there are encouraging signs,” Ross Johnson, Idaho Potato Commission vice president of retail and international, told Capital Press. He pointed to the nearly 15% increase in fresh potato export volume.
“Idaho is building on that momentum, and our state’s export results have continued to increase even as total U.S. potato-product exports declined,” he said.
Potato exports from the state during the July 2025-June 2026 period increased by 16% from a year earlier, Johnson said.
“That growth demonstrates the value of sustained, market-specific programs that build demand for Idaho potatoes,” he said. IPC offices around the world “give us an edge” and “we are excited for the continued growth we will see in this coming year.”
The commission is concentrating its international efforts in markets where it sees strong opportunities for long-term growth, including Mexico, Taiwan and Malaysia, Johnson said.
Each market requires a different strategy, “so we work closely with importers, retailers, foodservice operators, culinary professionals, and educational institutions to communicate what distinguishes Idaho potatoes,” he said. Quality, versatility and strong consumer recognition are among distinguishing factors.
The national export figures provide important context but do not tell the entire story for every producing state or market, Johnson said.
“Idaho’s growth shows that focused promotion, strong partnerships, and a willingness to tailor programs to local needs can produce positive results, even when the broader export environment is under pressure,” he said. “We remain optimistic about the international outlook for Idaho potatoes.
IPC’s goal is not simply to ship more product in the short term, but rather to “build enduring demand and establish Idaho as the preferredon said
About 20% of U.S. potatoes are exported, according to the National Potato Council.
