Potato News from Asia

Since 2015, China has selected more than 10 potato varieties suitable for processing staple foods and developed more than 300 potato-based versions of staple food.

Japan's Cup Noodle maker Nissin continues to push the instant ramen envelope in delicious new ways. And now they have waded into PotatoPro territory.

Potato growers of the Thakurgaon district, Bangladesh are worried that they might not be able to recover the production cost due to sudden drop in the prices of the vegetable in the ongoing harvesting season.

Dutch potato processing companies are increasing their market share in the South Korean Frozen French Fry market.

Uzbekistan will allow tax-free import of potatoes until January 1, 2019. The measure is intended to eliminate the shortage of potatoes in the domestic market and to curb rising prices

Taiwan authorities amended their quarantine documentation requirements for imports of fresh potatoes, both table stock and chipping potatoes.

Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the Indian federal government was planning to draw a sustainable roadmap to keep soaring prices of staples tomato, onion and potato under control.

China will review anti-dumping duties levied on potato starch imported from the EU which are due to expire, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced earlier this month.

The potato production in West Bengal is expected to drop from last year’s 11 million tonne to 8-10 million tonnes in 2018, but is unlikely to impact the price, officials said.

Four months after farmers dumped potatoes on road in Mohali and other parts of the Indian state Punjab, seeking remunerative price for their potato crop, state government has allowed the staple food’s export to Russia and the Middle East.

A startup in Afghanistan is working hard to produce its Mr. Kachaloo Potato Chips, mostly by hand. The company currently sells two tonnes of potato crisps a month - but they could sell more...

Japanese Fast food chain 'First Kitchen' launch two types of 'Dessert Potato' nationwide. Both dishes start with French fries with a swirl of Hokkaido dairy-sourced vanilla ice cream finished with two types of toppings...

An ammonia gas leak from a cold storage plant near Agra (UP, India) has caused damage to potato crops across four nearby villages, affecting some 500 farmers in the area.

According to a GAIN-report prepared by the USDA staff in Beijing, China’s fresh potato production in marketing year 2017-2018 is forecast at 97 million metric tons, a five percent increase from the estimated 92 million metric tons in the previous year.

Potatoes USA reports that the South Korean government has reopened its market for table-stock potatoes from the Pacific Northwest states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Last week North Korea's State News Agency shared a number of pictures of Kim Jong Un touring a new potato factory in Samjiyon, near the Chinese border.

McDonald's Japan offers American Inspired Cheddar Cheese Potato Balls for a limited time

Potato farmers in the Indian state Punjab are headed for another season of dwindling profits because the cold storage facilities are still flooded with old crop - and several other states are in a similar situation.