News on Potatoes for processing from New Zealand

New Zealand potato growers are focusing on turning higher yields into greater value as they navigate fluctuating markets, rising costs, and increasing climate pressures, according to Potatoes New Zealand Chief Executive Kate Trufitt.

French fries are part of a booming USD 18 billion sector, projected to reach USD 24 billion by decade’s end. Plant & Food Research, part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, has been recognised for creating a new potato variety tailored to this market.

There's a major potato shortage in New Zealand and it's big enough that it's forced chip producers to temporarily stop production in the countdown to Christmas.

New Zealand Potato production in 2013, at 525,000 metric tons, was marginally (5%) ahead of 2012 production. t is likely planted areas in 2014 will be similar to 2013, with production in the range of 500,000 to 550,000MT.