News on Food Trends from Europe

In the United Kingdom, a high profile advertising campaign has been launched to drive awareness and sales of named potato varieties.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 199.1 points in September 2013, 2.3 points (1 percent) below its August value and down 11 points (or 5.4 percent) since the beginning of the year.

More than 140 potato growers, advisors and agronomists met at Frederick Hiam Ltd, Tuddenham, Suffolk at the end of August, 2013, for Potato Council’s East of England Potato Day.

Over the next 5 years, northwest European potato prices are expected to gradually climb and elevated price volatility set to persist, according to a new report by Rabobank.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 201.8 points in August 2013, nearly 4 points (1.9 percent) below its July value and 11 points (or 5.1 percent) less than in August 2012. Last month’s decline was the fourth in a row.

This week, Breeders Trust successfully reached an agreement with eight Italian agricultural cooperatives and producers that propagated potato varieties and marketed these as officially certified seed potatoes, without permission of the variety owner.

Machinery manufacturer Tong Peal has announced a brand new machinery finishing process, as part of continued efforts to provide farmers and growers with the highest quality custom handling equipment.

Branston and Tesco are offering consumers the opportunity to have their moment of fame with their new ‘Pic on a Pack' initiative. Customers have at chance to have their photo featured on packs of freshly prepared Parmentier potatoes.

McCain Foods is set to unveil its new Happy Days campaign on 2 September, featuring outdoor, press, TV, cinema and in-store activity, along with a 3.7 million household door drop.

Yield trials of the Dutch Farmers Union VTA indicate a yield mid August 19 percent below the 5-year average.

Growers, agronomists and technical specialists turned out in high numbers at Potatoes in Practice earlier this month on the James Hutton Institute’s Balruddery Farm, Invergowrie.

Importers and growers looking to buy high health, high quality seed are warmly invited to visit Potato Council’s stand at Potato Europe (Emmeloord, The Netherlands, September 11-12, 2013).

The market for food innovations is growing strongly and therefore one of the most dynamic and interesting markets in the world. The Emsland Group is not just going along with this trend, but shaping it as well.

In the aftermath of last year’s difficult growing and harvesting season, almost one in ten of Britain’s potato growers decided to call it a day, but, according to Rob Clayton of the Potato Council, the 2013 acreage of potatoes in the UK has not fallen.

Furious potato growers are going head to head with supermarkets and restaurants in a campaign to reclaim the "British New Potato".

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 205.9 points in July 2013, 4 points (nearly 2 percent) below its revised value for June and 7 points (or 3.3 percent) lower than in July 2012.

Potato processor McCain has contracted Soltens to remove and recycle by-products from its Scarborough french fry factory.

The Highlander crisps plant at Bathgate, West Lothian, closed on July 31 with the loss of 28 jobs.