News On French Fries and Potato Specialties

Polysense has opened its first US office in Chicago to serve food manufacturers across the US and Canada, expanding its AI-driven quality control and process optimization solutions for potato, bakery, and fruit and vegetable processing.

Hungritos showcased French Fries, Aloo Popcorn, Potato Mojjos, Criss-Cross Waffle Fries and other frozen snacks at Fine Food Australia 2026 in Melbourne, strengthening partnerships and its presence in Australia's foodservice and retail markets.

World Potato Congress launches the 'Growing the Future' Youth Engagement & 4K Club Program in Kenya, bringing 40 students from 10 schools together to learn potato production, compete in five categories and build a lasting agricultural legacy.

Uttar Pradesh plans a dedicated potato export facility at Noida International Airport in Jewar, along with a 50-acre Agri Export Hub featuring processing, packaging and gamma-radiation treatment facilities.

Lamb Weston is promoting Really Crunchy Fries for UK foodservice, featuring a distinctive rough texture, 9% visible coating and long-lasting crunch, while supporting the range through chef collaborations, industry events and foodservice sampling.

Belgium’s potato crop is shrinking under extreme heat and drought, threatening supplies for its famous fries. Smaller potatoes could tighten availability, raise costs and push up prices across the country’s € frozen fries industry.

Clarebout Potatoes is proposing to close its Moeskroen 1 plant in Belgium as frozen potato production capacity exceeds expected demand. The potential closure could affect 392 employees, while investment will continue at other facilities.

WPC 2026 preparations are accelerating in Kenya, with the Farmers Field Day at FreshCrop taking shape alongside new speakers, partners and international registrations ahead of the global potato Congress in Naivasha.

McCain Foods India has appointed Aditya Krishna as Managing Director, effective August 1, 2026. He will lead growth, strengthen grower partnerships and continue developing French Fries potato varieties suited to Indian conditions.

Simplot and Tasmanian potato growers remain at odds over prices and supply terms, with growers also concerned about contract cuts and a planned 30,000-tonne reduction in potato volumes through the Ulverstone processing plant.

Marieke Hoste, VAVI's new director, will make her first Potato Demo Day visit, highlighting collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing. She says the Dutch potato sector can tackle policy, sustainability and market challenges together.

Optimum Sorting's laser technology detects hidden defects, foreign materials, wet centers, soft rot and solanine in potatoes, fries and chips, delivering high-precision sorting with 0.3 mm resolution and up to 3,333 scans per second.

India’s potato industry needs a stronger seed ecosystem to close its productivity gap. Scientific seed multiplication, digital agronomy and market-aligned varieties can improve yields, reduce risks and build a profitable supply chain.

The 27th China Potato Congress in Hebei unites global potato leaders. Sensitar showcases intelligent processing solutions, boosting efficiency, sustainability and high-value growth across the potato industry.

La Asociación Latinoamericana de la Papa (ALAP) define su agenda para el próximo congreso, a celebrarse el año que viene en Montevideo, Uruguay.

HyFun Foods and Maersk have inaugurated one of India's largest cold storage facilities in Mehsana, Gujarat. The 260,000 sq. ft. facility with capacity for 14,700 pallet positions strengthens HyFun Foods' cold chain and frozen potato logistics.

Global warming is accelerating, threatening potato production through heat, drought, pests, and storage challenges. Climate-smart farming, resilient varieties, and improved irrigation are essential to protect future yields and quality.

Siddhivinayak Agri Processing (SV AGRI) has launched its Starch Recovery Unit (SRU) for potato processors. The system recovers valuable potato starch removes up to 95% TSS reduces ETP load and lowers fresh water consumption by 30% to 40%.