Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Fresh table potato in Guatemala is primarily produced in the western highlands, with Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, and San Marcos frequently cited as key producing departments. The market is domestic-consumption oriented, but Guatemala also ships fresh/chilled potatoes regionally—exports in HS 070190 in 2023 were concentrated in El Salvador—while imports in the same code mainly came from the United States and Canada. National authorities (MAGA/VISAR) manage plant-health controls through phytosanitary export certificates and prior phytosanitary import permits. A central production and trade risk is soil-borne pests, notably potato cyst nematode, which Guatemalan research institutions report as reducing yields in highland zones.
Market RoleDomestic producer and regional exporter (also importer)
Domestic RoleDomestic-consumption oriented staple vegetable market with some regional export flows
SeasonalityPlanting is commonly aligned with the onset of rains in highland zones; with irrigation, potato can be planted outside the main rainy window.
Specification
Primary VarietyICTA Loman Roja
Physical Attributes- ICTA Loman Roja: red skin and oval/elongated tuber form are described in ICTA and Government of Guatemala communications.
Compositional Metrics- ICTA reports total solids of 20% for ICTA Loman Roja (variety-specific reference).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Certified seed/mini-tuber production support (greenhouses) and certified-seed use promoted via MAGA/FONAGRO programs in western highland producer organizations.
- Post-harvest handling support has included mobile potato washing units for producer groups in San Marcos and Quetzaltenango.
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeLand
Risks
Phytosanitary HighPotato cyst nematode pressure in Guatemala's western highlands has been reported by national research/extension bodies as a major constraint that reduces yields and can drive production abandonment in affected zones; unmanaged spread via seed/soil movement can severely disrupt supply and market access.Prioritize certified seed, enforce field and equipment hygiene to limit soil movement, and consider nematode-tolerant varieties promoted by ICTA (e.g., ICTA Loman Roja) alongside monitoring and local NPPO guidance.
Regulatory Compliance MediumImport clearance risk arises if shipments lack the MAGA phytosanitary import permit and supporting phytosanitary documentation (including required additional declarations or treatment certificates when applicable), which can cause delays or rejection at border controls.Confirm MAGA import-permit applicability for the specific commodity and origin, apply in advance via the government procedure portal, and align phytosanitary certificate text and any treatment documentation to MAGA requirements.
Logistics MediumRegional export exposure is concentrated in overland shipments to El Salvador; disruptions on land corridors (border delays, fuel price spikes, or road disruptions) can materially affect delivery performance and margins for bulky fresh potato consignments.Build buffer time into delivery windows for cross-border lanes, validate importer receiving schedules, and use contingency routing and staged inventory near key border/market nodes when running fixed programs.
Sustainability- Highland agronomy and input management (department-specific fertilizer recommendations have been studied for potato systems in Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, and San Marcos).
- Soil health and soil-borne pest pressure management in western highland potato zones.
Labor & Social- Smallholder producer organization strengthening and access to certified seed have been explicit targets of MAGA/FONAGRO support in western highland potato areas.
FAQ
Which phytosanitary documents are commonly needed to import fresh potatoes into Guatemala when the product is regulated?Guatemala’s government procedure portal for the MAGA phytosanitary import permit indicates that the process requires a copy of the exporting country’s phytosanitary certificate (issued by the origin NPPO) and, when MAGA requires it, a quarantine treatment certificate. Importers should obtain the MAGA phytosanitary import permit in advance when applicable.
Which Guatemalan regions are most often cited as key potato-producing areas for fresh table potatoes?National research and government communications frequently point to the western highlands, especially Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, and San Marcos, as key potato-producing departments.
What is the most critical production risk highlighted for Guatemala’s table potato supply?ICTA communications emphasize potato cyst nematode as a major constraint in western highland potato areas, reporting yield impacts and production abandonment in some zones; this makes phytosanitary and seed/soil management a central risk for supply continuity.