BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho Department of Commerce spokeswoman says a trade trip to Russia promoting Idaho agriculture has been put indefinitely on hold.

The Capital Press reported Friday that spokeswoman Megan Ronk says eastern Idaho businesses have made promising inroads with Russian potato farmers. Five delegates representing growers from Russia's Moscow and Lipetsk regions visited Idaho in March. The Commerce Department had hoped to lead a team of Idaho agriculture leaders to Lipetsk, but the trip had to be postponed because of the conflict in Ukraine.

Nampa-based potato storage manufacturer Industrial Ventilation Inc. had offered to finance the trip. Company president Frank Bushman says more potato acres will be need in Russia to accommodate the planned expansion of two potato chip plants and a fry processing facility.

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