News on Food Trends from Northern America

Robots in potato farming help ease labor shortages, cut costs, and boost yields by automating tasks like planting and harvesting. Paired with smart tools like crop monitoring, they improve efficiency, reduce waste, and support sustainable farming.

Cavendish Farms is launching a sustainability project on Prince Edward Island to help potato growers adopt eco-friendly practices, focusing on water use, pest control, and soil health. A farm advisory group will guide research and share results with local farmers.

Chad Hutchinson of TriCal Group joins the World Potato Congress Inc. Board as a Director. A global expert in potato research and soil health, he brings decades of experience supporting growers and advancing crop production worldwide.

United States potato exports fell 4% in volume and 1% in value (July 2024–March 2025), mainly due to lower dehydrated and chip exports. Frozen, fresh, and seed exports rose, with strong gains in Japan, Taiwan, and Guatemala despite China-India competition.

WPC Inc. announces leadership changes: Nora Olsen, Jang Sangha, and Martin Acosta retire, with Greg Donald named Vice President and Brian Douglas appointed Treasurer as preparations begin for the 2026 Congress in Kenya.

P.E.I. launches a buy-back program for potato wart index fields to combat the fungal disease. It aids farmers, protects land, and boosts trade, with over USD 40M spent since 2021 on wart control efforts.

With a focus on Making Fries and Making Strides, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. issued its annual Global Sustainability Report, providing updates on the company’s performance against key sustainability and people initiatives during its fiscal year 2024.

Alsum Farms & Produce awarded USD 10,000 in scholarships to 10 Wisconsin high school seniors for academic, agricultural, and community excellence. The program supports future ag leaders.

Heat and Control, a world-leading manufacturer of food industry equipment, has announced the acquisition of Fabcon Food Systems Ltd.

En menos de diez años se espera que el mercado global de productos procesados de papa supere los 62 mi millones de dólares. Un crecimiento anual de más del 5%.

PEI celebrates the 2nd International Day of Potato, honoring its historic role and global impact. With innovation and sustainability, Island farmers grow 2.6B lbs yearly - feeding over 25 million people and securing the future of this vital crop.

Food Innovation Online Corp., the company behind the leading potato industry portal PotatoPro.com, is proud to announce the launch of its 'PotatoPro Puts You on the Map' initiative.

Intralox unveils updated strategies and tools to prevent the top 5 causes of conveyor-related foreign material contamination (FMC), helping food processors enhance safety, reduce recalls, and extend belt life through proactive prevention.

Tariff pressures and rising costs are reshaping consumer perceptions in the potato snack market. Brands must monitor sentiment closely, act swiftly on price-to-value concerns, and adapt strategies to protect loyalty in this highly sensitive category.

Celebrate the International Day of the Potato on May 15, 2025, with a global webinar hosted by the World Potato Congress! Discover how this vital crop drives food security and rural resilience through expert insights and global case studies.

REYCO Systems celebrates 50 years of innovation in food processing technology. From the Oil Miser® to EcoMiser® and EcoVac™, the company continues to lead with sustainable solutions. Here's to the next 50 years of success!

Simon Fraher is a highly skilled vegetable breeder finishing his doctorate this spring semester with NC State University’s Sweetpotato and Potato Breeding and Genetics Programs.

Utz Brands will showcase its Utz, Zapp’s, Boulder Canyon, and On The Border snacks, including new flavors, at booth #2714 during the 2025 Sweets & Snacks Expo, May 13-15 in Indianapolis.