JAPAN’S WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC HITS A HOME RUN WITH “BASEBALL FRIES” FEATURING U.S. POTATOES

Potatoes USA promotional work and the help in development of “Baseball Fries” featuring U.S. frozen potatoes hit a home run both in and out of the ballpark at the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, Japan. In March, Potatoes U.S.A. sponsored a game at the Classic to promote Baseball Fries along with the Miso Potato. Baseball Fries are an all-American version of loaded fries with chili and cheese. After their debut, Potatoes secured 89 media placements showcasing Baseball Fries. In addition, twenty foodservice operators working with 57 outlets are launching 39 new menu versions of Baseball Fries featuring U.S. potatoes. During their baseball promotional period in February and March, the Takeno Corporation estimated they used 1,000 kg of U.S. potatoes upon their launch of five new menu items.

Currently, Japan is the top export for frozen U.S. potato products and the third largest export market for the U.S. with frozen export values increasing by approximately 26% in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023.