>Washington state potato shippers wishing to send fresh potatoes into Mexico are being required to follow additional steps in shipping protocol.
In addition to the established requirements, shippers will have to peel 400 tubers per shipment and have the tubers inspected for Columbia root knot nematode and bacterial ring rot.
Any shipment exhibiting signs of either pest will have their potatoes tested in an accredited lab. The potatoes may then be shipped after confirmation that the quarantine pests are not present.
Mexican officials have implemented the steps after reportedly finding a high percentage of positive finds for quarantine pests in U.S. potato products.
Washington state potato officials say that without following this procedure the United States will risk losing a lucrative market for fresh potatoes.