News on Industry Associations from Northern America

The Oregon Potato Commission has committed an extra $60,000 this year in funding for the potato variety development program at Oregon State University, said Bill Brewer, the commission’s executive director.Among those new varieties Brewer is most excit...

The P.E.I. Potato Board is wooing an old friend in an effort to create new business opportunities for Island farmers.The board is hosting a delegation of industry leaders from Algeria.The Algerian delegation is in the province now. They are planning to...

Exhibit space in The Processing Zone at PACK EXPO International 2010 (October 31-November 3;McCormick Place, Chicago, IL) is sold out, show producer PMMI has announced. The special exhibit area in Lakeside Center will include more than 150 companies ex...

A hearing over how Cavendish Farms negotiates potato contracts with P.E.I. growers wrapped up Thursday.Cavendish Farms, an Irving-owned company, appealed a decision by the P.E.I. Potato Board.The board had approved an order in December that required pr...

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz today announced the addition of two new members to the AFFI staff. Corey N. Henry joins AFFI as vice president of communications and Jane D. Pritchett is AFFI’s new manager of accou...

With restaurant sales down over the last year or so, potato shippers and marketing directors are looking at options to get their product on more plates.Some say that progress has been made.“It’s slowly coming back,” said Kevin Stanger vice president of...

Mashed potatoes in foodservice operations are up 29% in the past four years. In Q1 2006, the top 350 chain restaurant menus listed 1,749 mashed potato menu items. In Q1 2010, there were 2,256. This is an important and positive trend for potatoes in foo...

An antitrust lawsuit contending Idaho potato growers and others conspired to raise potato prices in the United States by controlling supply has been filed in federal court

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has placed new print advertisements for Idaho® potatoes in the Boise and Idaho Falls airports to greet the thousands of travelers who visit these cities each day. The engaging ads are a creative way to reach consumers ...

With two weeks since the start of the 2011 PROCESS EXPO member round of exhibit space selection, booth sales already reached over 100,000 square feet. “We’re extremely pleased, but not surprised,” said Scott Scriven, Chairman of the Food Processing Su...

From a mouth watering, movie-inspired appetizer to a family-pleasing one-dish meal, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) announced today the winners of its “Watching Waistlines &Wallets” Recipe Contest.  With a record 1,450 recipes submitted, it’s evi...

Potato growers and shippers planning to bypass a potential repeat of the current volume-heavy and price-light market are advised not to turn to specialty varieties as a solution.

Irving-owned Cavendish Farms is making arguments before a tribunal in the hopes of overturning an order that would force it to sign contracts with farmers before planting season. In 2008 and 2009, farmers were frustrated by delays from the company th...

Both attendee and exhibitor numbers showed positive growth at the 91st annual NRA Show. The increases highlight the NRA Show's position in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Growers of processing potatoes in Manitoba have approved a deal with McCain Foods which will see production drop by 12 percent, with prices down around 15 percent. Gary Sloik, general manager of the Keystone Potato Producers Association, says growers w...

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board said it is disappointed that Cavendish Farms is appealing a new mediation and arbitration rule put in place this year. Under the Potato Board order, contracts must be worked out between Island potato processing p...

Potato farmers selling potatoes to McCain Foods have seen their contract improved after going to arbitration.The farmers had complained McCain's offer price was not even close to what Cavendish Farms is giving its farmers. The issue went to arbitration...

The Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) 19th Annual Potato Lover’s Month Retail Display Contest triggerred retailers to pull out all the stops: Floor-to-ceiling, head-turning displays and increased retailer participation demonstrated that this retail promo...