A delegation of 16 Idaho companies led by Gov. Butch Otter returned from a week-long trade mission to Mexico with verbal sales commitments of more than $1 million, trial orders with some of Mexico’s largest companies and a host of new contacts for future sales.

A significant part of the governor’s schedule focused on meetings with large Mexican companies in the food processing and distribution business including Wal-Mart Mexico, the bread and tortilla manufacturer Gruma, and snack food manufacturer BARCEL.

In addition to meetings with Mexican companies, Otter met with Mexican officials to discuss bilateral trade relations, including what the governor called unjustified trade restrictions against fresh potatoes, and the prospects of expanding market access beyond the 26-kilometer border zone.

Mexico has long been one of Idaho’s top 10 export markets and is the state’s second-largest export market for agricultural products. Last year, Idaho companies sent nearly $137 million in products to Mexico, an increase of 5 percent from the previous year.