Mexican Buyers Experience U.S Fresh Potatoes Firsthand

From farms to supermarket shelves, Mexican importers, wholesalers, and retail professionals got an up-close look at the U.S. fresh potato industry during the 2025 Mexico Fresh Potato Reverse Trade Mission (RTM), hosted by Potatoes USA in Colorado from September 29 to October 2. The delegation included buyers, category managers, wholesalers, and importers/distributors from across Mexico, all of whom help shape consumer access to fresh potatoes in the United States’ largest export market.

• What’s a reverse trade mission? It’s when international buyers and partners come to the United States to experience U.S. potatoes firsthand – learning about their quality, versatility, and value while building business relationships.

Over the course of the week, participants experienced the full U.S. potato supply chain — from fields, storage facilities, and packing sheds in the San Luis Valley to research centers and retail merchandising tours in Denver.

The program also featured a grower panel and educational seminars on consumer research, nutrition, and flavor trends, as well as networking opportunities to strengthen business relationships between the U.S. potato industry and Mexico’s retail sector.

• What impact do RTMs have? One retailer attendee said since attending the previous reverse trade mission in October 2024, they “have doubled their imports of U.S. potatoes, which are mostly russets. They are now looking to expand their portfolio to other types like yellows and purples.”
• Why Mexico matters: Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. potatoes (July 2024-June 2025). The entire Mexican market opened to U.S. fresh potato exports in May 2022.