News on Food Trends

Agribusiness giant J. R. Simplot is seeking receivership over two of its vegetable suppliers, claiming mismanagement of the $400-million-grossing companies threatens 2,000 jobs and could end in bankruptcy without court intervention.

Pepsico is a company pulled in two different directions. Chief executive Indra Nooyi has vowed to turn the maker of Fritos, Cheetos, Lay’s and Pepsi into a health juggernaut. But while consumers say they want to eat healthy, often what they really want is chips.

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.

Belgian pre-fried and frozen potato products manufacturer Agristo is teaming up with Egemin Automation for the third time in a row for the construction of a new, fully automated high-bay deepfreeze warehouse.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 171.3 points in November 2016, only 0.4 percent below its October level, but still 10.4 percent higher than in November 2015.

Avebe takes an active role in the development of appealing, nutritional and healthy food products with potato based solutions.

Last week Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.announced that the Company had signed a definitive agreement to sell its Diamond of California® culinary nut business to Blue Road Capital.

Bad smells from deep-fat frying in restaurants and take-away food venues could soon be eradicated thanks to experiments funded by ESA on the International Space Station.

Seven of Lamb Weston's thirteen processing facilities in the United States achieved ENERGY STAR® certification from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

From TIMEOUT Blog London, PotatoPro learned that London now has its first 'Crisp Restaurant'. This paradise for potato (chips) lovers is located in Soho and is called Hipchips

EarthFresh Farms recently announced the acquisition of the assets of Grand Bend Produce, a Southwestern Ontario based fresh potato business.

After further investigation of the food tampering report of this weekend, Halifax Police concluded it can not be determined where the needle originated. This additional reporting caused a sigh of relieve among Canadian Potato Packers.

In September, McDonald's approved two relatively new potato varieties for the production of their french Fries. They only allow seven varieties now, four of which were developed by the Tri-State Program

Consuming high amounts of four major saturated fatty acids - found in red meat, dairy fat, butter, lard, and palm oil - may increase risk of coronary heart disease, according to a new study.

Earlier today, the Halifax Regional Police announced they received a report of a needle being found in potatoes at a home in Halifax, NS Canada.

AHDB Potatoes' first provisional estimate of total production in Great Britain for the 2016 crop year is 5.22 million tonnes, down 5% from 2015. Average yields for GB are estimated at just under 45 tonnes/ha, down 8% on last year.

Can the nutritional value of potatoes be improved? That is the question USDA research geneticist Kathy Haynes has been asking for nearly 30 years. Her quest for the answer has led her to breeding a more nutritious potato, similar to the papa criolla types found in South America.