Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, today issued the following statement on Mexico’s decision to open up trade markets to U.S. potato growers.

“This agreement is a great victory for Colorado’s hardworking potato farmers. Mexico is the United States’ third-largest trading partner and opening these new markets will grow Colorado’s potato industry and boost our rural economies,” Bennet said. “We’ve worked for years with the state’s agricultural community, western lawmakers, U.S. trade representatives, and the Department of Agriculture to prioritize this important issue and we’re excited to see this new trade opportunity finally become available for Colorado producers.”

As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Bennet has fought to open Mexican markets to Colorado potato farmers.  In 2012, Bennet led a letter urging President Obama to work with the Mexican government to ensure that U.S. potato growers have access to Mexican markets.  That same year, Bennet also wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack  asking for their assistance in opening Mexican markets.