Western Belize Farmers Protest French Fry Imports Amid Rotting Potato Fields

Farmers in western Belize are up in arms with the government because they claim an increase in French fry imports is causing their potato fields to rot. Almost a dozen potato farmers in La Gracia Village have scores of harvested potatoes piling up with no way to sell them or nowhere to store them. The group claims that after months of writing to the Minister of Agriculture to request an audience, he met with them in March to discuss the issue. However, they claim that even after expressing their concerns to the government; the market is oversaturated with imported fries. Additionally, the group says they don’t have access to cold storage units to store their produce. Ever Blandon, Chairman of the Valley of Peace Farmer’s Association, spoke about the issue yesterday on a visit to his farm where pounds of potatoes are piling up.

The farmers say they stand to lose thousands of dollars if they don’t find a market for their potatoes.