Business

As Trump touts ‘America First,’ foreign trade brings success to Idaho, Bloomberg says

The J.R. Simplot Co., which grows potatoes inside a greenhouse in southwestern Idaho, received permission this month to sell to sell genetically engineered potatoes in Canada. The potatoes resist browning and are designed to produce lower levels of a natural but potentially cancer-causing acrylamide when fried.
The J.R. Simplot Co., which grows potatoes inside a greenhouse in southwestern Idaho, received permission this month to sell to sell genetically engineered potatoes in Canada. The potatoes resist browning and are designed to produce lower levels of a natural but potentially cancer-causing acrylamide when fried. John Miller AP

Idaho came out on top among the 50 states in a new economic evaluation of the states published by Bloomberg.

The states were measured on personal income, job growth, stock-market gains and an increase in home values over a 12-month period ending in March. Idaho ranked No. 1 because its largest companies sell most of their products oversees, said Bloomberg, a financial data and media company.

Nearly two-thirds of Micron Technology’s customers are outside the U.S., up from 49 percent five years ago. And foreign companies account for 63 percent of Micron’s suppliers.

Mining companies, among them Hecla Mining Co., have also prospered through international sales. The company, based in Coeur d’Alene, sells 67 percent of its products in Canada and 30 percent in Asia.

And even the J.R. Simplot Co., is expanding its reach. It received permission this month to sell genetically engineered potatoes in Canada.

John Sowell: 208-377-6423, @IDS_Sowell

This story was originally published August 22, 2017 at 2:29 PM with the headline "As Trump touts ‘America First,’ foreign trade brings success to Idaho, Bloomberg says."

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