News on Food Trends from the Americas

Potato grower R.D. Offutt has agreed to scale back its expansion plans in Minnesota in a deal with regulators to protect sensitive groundwater and pine forests in central Minnesota.

With digging season just around the corner, eastern Idaho potato farmers say they are optimistic they will improve on a middling 2014 harvest this year.

El gobierno de la República, a través del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG), trabaja en varios proyectos para mejorar la producción de papa en la zona norte del país, informó el titular de esa institución, Orestes Ortez.

Foods bearing “free-from” claims are increasingly relevant to Americans, as they perceive the products as closely tied to health. Mintel research reveals that 84 percent of American free-from consumers buy free-from foods because they are seeking out more natural or less processed foods.

REYCO Systems® and its partner companies Idaho Steel Products and Kiremko today announced the release of the EcoMiser™ Oil Removal System.

Just in time for the back to school season, here is your A to Z guide on potato nutrition, brought to you by the United States Potato Board.

The J.R. Simplot Company is pleased that the USDA has deregulated the Russet Burbank variety of the second generation of Innate™ potatoes. Simplot is looking forward to the completion of the EPA registration and FDA consultation before the second generation of Innate™ potatoes can be introduced into the marketplace.

Researchers of Penn State University discovered that compounds found in purple potatoes may help kill colon cancer stem cells and limit the spread of the cancer.

Kelly McIver was named the Executive Director of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission (NCSPC) on August 17, following the retirement announcement earlier this year by longtime director Sue Johnson-Langdon.

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) recently updated its website to make it easier than ever for consumers to spend quality time online with Idaho® potatoes.

In a new Ranker poll, the potato tops the competition as the peoples’ #1 favorite vegetable. As such, potatoes hold an important position on foodservice menus as a foundation for profitable snacks, appetizers, side dishes, and entrées.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) School Nutrition Program has officially launched to reach the 55.5 million strong, and growing, school students who are part of the “Salad Generation.”

A UK company that manufactures machines that help restaurants make fresh-cut french fries is launching into the North American market with a small plant in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

The three cross cutting themes of gender, partnerships, and capacity building are the main focus of the 2014 CIP annual report. Cooperation is the common thread that binds them all.

RPE Inc. is introducing Oddball Organics™, a new brand for organic potatoes that do not fit the standard.

The Prince Edward Island Potato Industry '... hasn't focused on the belly aching, financial or emotional challenges...' resulting from the potato tampering incidents, that are still unresolved. 'Instead food safety has continued to be the highest priority ...' says Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. potato board.

Kraft Heinz says it is cutting about 2,500 jobs in the United States and Canada as part of its plan to slash costs after the food companies combined.

A fire chief credits quick action by employees for a short interruption of work at a McCain potato processing plant in Plover, Wisconsin.