News on Food Trends from Oceania

Farmers are among New Zealand's essential workers, so farms and fields are remaining busy keeping food on Kiwis' plates. And despite panic-buying, there is no shortage. New Zealand could survive on potatoes alone.

AUSVEG and the Produce Marketing Association of Australia – New
Zealand (PMA-ANZ) have decided to postpone Hort Connections 2020, which was
due to be held from 15-17 June 2020 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Four of the largest potato producers in Australia want to convert 100% of their potato waste into commercial benefit through their partnership with the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).

Adelaide, South Australia has been named as the host city for the 2023 World Potato Congress (WPC), the first time this event has been held in Australia. The announcement was made during Potatoes South Australia’s Annual Industry Dinner and Auction.

Nadia & Alf Taylor, co-founders of tna, a leading food processing and packaging solutions provider located in Sydney, Australia, were presented with insignias commemorating their appointment as Members (AM) of the Order of Australia.

New Zealand supermarket chain Countdown says its biggest selling potatoes are white washed potatoes. Customers also prefer that their potatoes are locally grown

One of Australia’s largest potato wholesalers, Mitolo Group, has been fined for entering into unfair contracts with growers.

Australian researchers have developed a technique to analyze potato chips’ physical characteristics from simulated first bite to swallow, which they say could be used to help formulate a tastier low-fat snack.

On 10 May, a meeting was held between AuSPICA, members of the Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (known as TasSeed) and invited industry representatives.

Philippine-based food company Universal Robina (URC) has announced the divestiture of a 40% stake in its Oceania subsidiary, URC Oceania, to the German snack food manufacturer Intersnack.

Tasmanian potato growers say Simplot is not paying them enough for their vegetables, as they negotiate a new contract with the vegetable processing giant.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ready Meals Pty Ltd (Ready Meals), a frozen potato processor in Australia.

FPS Food Process Solutions Corporation has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Total Solutions Limited, a leading fabricator of food processing equipment and conveyor systems in Auckland, New Zealand.

End-to-end traceability in the food supply chain can do more than safeguard against potential disasters, particularly at the processing stage. Geoff Furniss, Head of BBC Technologies within TOMRA, explains how.

The Latest Potatoes New Zealand Industry Volumes & Values

Potatoes have typically been used in the home as a humble side to accompany a steak or roast chicken, but have you ever tried potato ice-cream? Chef Russell Blaikie says the texture of potatoes is like velvet.

Researchers from Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the US have quantified the effect of climate extremes, such as droughts or heatwaves, on the yield variability of staple crops around the world.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Marvel Packers Pty Ltd , a frozen potato processor in Australia. Marvel operates frozen potato processing and storage facilities (for frozen product) in Hallam, Victoria.