Australian potato supplier, the Pye Group will, officially opened the largest potato packing facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere on Tuesday.

Global food processing and packaging solutions specialist, tna, has added the brand new tna auto-splice 3 to its packaging portfolio – making the ‘Perfect Pair’ alongside the tna robag ® 3e, which was launched in 2021.

AUSVEG has reviewed Global Trade Atlas import data to better understand: the changes in the levels of potato imports pre- and post-COVID, as well as
the changes in import levels over the last 12-months as growers have faced significant increases in costs of production.

Potato farmers in the Ballarat region are demanding a pay rise for their produce, claiming McCain Foods does not pay a fair price for the popular mealtime vegetable. Last season McCain Foods paid growers an average of AUD 0.33 (about USD 0.23)

Potato processor Simplot Australia has refused to budge on its second price offer to Tasmanian farmers for their potato crop this season. Farmers met on Wednesday night to discuss the impasse with the company.

Snack brand Pringles has had a change to the packaging of its 53g varieties, with the plastic cap removed and replaced with a foil laminate seal, made by Sonoco.

Farmers have rejected a second price offer made by food manufacturer Simplot for their potato crop this season.

Simplot Australia has announced an AUD 65 million (about USD 44 million) upgrade to its Bathurst manufacturing facility and acquisiton of farming land in the Central West region of New South Wales valued at AUD 40 million.

Zerella Fresh was founded in 1936 (Virginia, South of Australia) and is since 2009 a part of the Pye Group family. Zerella is committed to being Australia’s leading supplier and marketer of fresh produce.

West-Australian Potato farmers are warning that growers will walk away from the industry as cost pressures make the staple crop unviable in Australia.

Developed by Freshlogic, the annual Horticulture Statistics Handbook includes the latest available data on 75 different categories across fruit, vegetable, nut, nursery, and cut flowers in Australia.

Nicole Stevens traveled to Australia from the United Kingdom after completing her science and tourism management studies. Her career pathway has now diverted to horticulture.