News on Food Trends from Alberta

Last Friday, the University of Lethbridge has opened the doors to its Potato Research Lab to showcase the work being done to support potato growers and processors.

For the first time, evidence of the zebra chip pathogen has been found in potato fields in southern Alberta, but the University of Lethbridge’s Dr. Dan Johnson cautions against panic.

Snack food company Left Field Foods has launched SPOKES, a light and crunchy air-puffed potato snack, now available across Canada.

The plans for a new multi-million dollar Cavendish Farms potato processing plant in Lethbridge, Alberta, should not concern the Prince Edward Island potato industry, says the general manager of the United Potato Growers of Canada.

Yesterday, Agrium Inc. (TSX: AGU) (NYSE: AGU) and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp) (TSX: POT) (NYSE: POT) announced that they have agreed to combine in a merger of equals to create a world-class integrated global supplier of crop inputs.

Researchers of the University of Alberta offer a green alternative to petroleum-based plastics used in food packaging by turning potato byproducts into eco-friendly plastic films

A weak Canadian Dollar and shipping disruptions at the Port of Seattle (Washinbgton, US) could increase demand for Canadian potatoes in 2015, says a spokesperson for the United Potato Growers of Canada.


The Dutch potato cooperative Agrico has recently purchased more shares in its joint investment Parkland Seed Potatoes Ltd, granting it a majority stake in this Canadian seed potato company.

Research capacity in Alberta’s potato industry will be significantly enhanced due to a $1 million investment in the University of Lethbridge by the Potato Growers of Alberta and the Potato Processors McCain Foods, ConAgra Lamb Weston and Cavendish Farms

Times have changed for Alberta potato growers. Up until four years ago, the province was virtually late blight-free. Lately, wet springs and high humidity — uncharacteristic for this region — have nurtured the growth and spread of the disease.

Cavendish Farms announced today it had concluded an agreement to buy the assets of Maple Leaf Potatoes, the frozen potato business of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., including a 142,000 sq. ft. processing facility in Lethbridge, Alberta.

A Liberal MLA in Canada's Alberta province who called for a boycott of Alberta potatoes over concerns that child labour remains unregulated in the province says he has no desire to damage the livelihoods of growers.

An Alberta politician, the Liberal MLA David Swann, called on snack-food giant Frito Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo., to boycott Alberta potatoes because child labour remains unregulated on provincial farms. The New Democrats later joined the Alberta Fe...