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Potatoes New Zealand became the 14th partner organisation to join the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response.

Leading Australian vegetable industry body AUSVEG has announced the appointment of James Whiteside as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Friday 9 December 2016.

New South Wales potato grower Geoff Moar has been re-elected to the position of AUSVEG Chair and Queensland vegetable grower Belinda Adams has been elected to the position of AUSVEG Deputy Chair following a Board meeting held on Thursday 24 November in Sydney.

Australia is experiencing a potato shortage because of flood-effected potato crops in the southern states.

According to Potatoes New Zealand, domestic sales of potato chips have grown by about 15 percent each year over the past three. New Zealanders spent NZD 157 million (USD 112 million ) on potato chips in 2015

Potato Experts from New Zealand predict a bright future for a new potato variety, marketed as 'White Beauty' (cultivar name ‘Crop39’). White Beauty will be commercially available to growers through Morgan Laurenson Ltd from 2017.

According to a Deloitte spokesman South Australian fresh produce company the Mitolo Group had taken control of all South Australian-owned farms of bankrupt Oakville Produce, as well as packaging businesses in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney - as of September 23.

Leading processing and packaging solutions provider tna has unveiled a brand new website to make it even easier for visitors to access its growing family of brands through one online platform.

Using the process of Pulse Electric Field (PEF) technology, the E-FLO™ Electroporation processing system by Heat and Control makes it possible for chips manufacturers to produce healthier and crunchier potato chips.

Western Australia's Parliament has cleared the way for full deregulation of the state's potato industry, passing legislation to abolish the controversial Potato Marketing Corporation (PMC).

Scottsdale farmers Jerrod and Susan Nichols are preparing to plant their 2016 spring crops, but say processing potatoes for McCain would not be in the mix unless prices lifted.

Universal Robina Corporation (URC), one of the largest branded consumer food and beverage product companies in the Philippines, is to buy Snack Brands Australia, according to a Snack Brands Australia statement dated August 17.

AUSVEG and PMA Australia-New Zealand Limited (PMA-ANZ) will unite to deliver a joint industry conference and trade show in 2017.

Australia's food regulator has called for submissions as it reviews a genetically-modified potato designed to produce less chemicals when fried.

A significant rise in potato imports into Australia is forecast for 2016, sparking concern about the profitability and competitiveness of the Australian potato industry over the coming months.

With pesticide resistance rising in species of aphids which feed on potatoes and spread viruses, one of the best control options for growers battling these pests may be found in nature, free of charge: parasitic wasps.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of New Zealand has approved a type of parasitic wasp as a biological control agent to combat the tomato potato psyllid (a plant louse), which attacks tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums and tamarillos in the country.

The Daily Mail Australia reports that Pringles chips - sold in cardboard cylinders - have shrunk in size in Australia and are being sold in a deceptively similar package of the same height but with a smaller diameter.