Venezuela potato farmers stalled

Potato farmers in Venezuela seem to be running out of options after a months-long stall in seed imports have caused the potato supply there to dwindle. The Venezuelan Producers Association, also called FEDEAGRO, says it is up to the Venezuelan government to import seeds from outside of the country and they control the quantity of seeds ordered. According to farmers, they are not getting clear information from the Venezuelan government on plans to order seeds nor the quantities they plan to import. The USDA says potato demand is growing quickly in Venezuela due an expanding fast food industry that includes popular international chains like McDonalds and Burger King. Potato farmers are struggling to meet the demands of the contracts they have with these franchises. More than 100 McDonalds restaurants in Venezuela ran out of potatoes in January. More…