Planet Money The potato-shaped loophole in free trade
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Jan 3, 2025 Discover the quirky saga of American potatoes in a lighthearted exploration of international trade. Learn how Idaho farmers navigated complex regulations to access the vast Mexican market, facing fierce competition and pest-related hurdles. Delve into the intriguing world of quarantine measures as non-tariff barriers and uncover the surprising impact of potato root nematodes on negotiations. It's a fascinating tale of agriculture, trade loopholes, and the hidden agendas that shape our food systems.
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Wada Family Farm
- Brian Wada's grandparents, Japanese Americans, started a 100-acre potato farm in Pingree, Idaho, after being forced from their California home during WWII.
- Over three generations, the farm grew to 32,000 acres, becoming one of America's largest potato growers and shippers.
Mexico: An Untapped Market
- American potato farmers saw Mexico as a vast, untapped market.
- They were eager to export fresh potatoes there after NAFTA was signed.
The Potato DMZ
- Mexico halted U.S. potato shipments beyond a 16-mile border zone, citing pest concerns, particularly the Columbia root knot nematode.
- This created a "potato DMZ", frustrating American farmers who believed Mexico overreacted.