TRI-CITY HERALD: French fries blocked from Asian markets This story was published Wednesday, December 31st, 2003 By Anna King, Herald staff writer More than $500,000 worth of french fries is being held in limbo at Northwest and Asian ports in an unexpected spin-off of the mad cow scare that is alarming one of the Mid-Columbia's biggest industries. Tons of Columbia Basin frozen potato products that were prefried in beef tallow have been delayed as Asian governments and customers have reacted to last week's announcement that a cow slaughtered in Mabton had the disease. At risk is part of an export...