News on Industry Associations

TOMRA Sorting Solutions is highlighting the breadth of its market-leading sensor-based food systems at this year’s Process Expo, taking place until November 6 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The Maine Potato Board has announced that Sara Corey of Monticello has been selected as the 2013 Young Farmer of the Year. Sara, 23, is the first woman to be chosen for this recognition and is also the youngest recipient of the honor.

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) announced the appointment of three new Commissioners who will each serve a three-year term: Peggy Grover, from BenchMark Potato in Rexburg, Ritchey Toevs, a grower residing in Aberdeen and Tommy Brown from Lamb Weston.

USPB has enlisted the help of Hungry Girl, the nationally recognized multimedia brand created by Lisa Lillien, which includes a popular web site, a free daily email service, eight bestselling books, a television series and countless other TV appearances.

While the potato industry is still waiting for clearance to be allowed to send fresh potatoes to Australia, a new market is rapidly opening up. The industry has high hopes for a new market in Vietnam.

In Spain, a new potato organisation was established: "Foro Espanol de la patata", the Spanish Potato Forum.

Educating children about the importance of food, farming and healthy eating is a priority for Potato Council and the ‘Grow Your Own Potatoes’ project does just that. Now entering its tenth year, the project has reached over 2 million children to date.

According to Romain Cools from Belgapom it is a fact that the consumption of fresh potatoes by Belgian families is falling, but he expects the prices to remain high.

The Red River Valley Potatoes was among the 1,000 companies exhibiting at the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit in New Orleans on October 19th and 20th.

Australian minister for the Environment, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, has launched the new EnviroVeg smartphone app for farmers, to help them manage their land sustainably.

A new study of 741 consumers released by the Australian vegetable industry today reveals almost one third of consumers have shown significant interest in buying more Asian vegetables.

Today’s reports that Simplot’s two vegetable processing plants at Bathurst and Devonport will remain open for at least another three years has been welcomed by peak industry body, AUSVEG.

Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) 2013 Fresh Summit Convention and Expo returned to New Orleans for the first time in 11 years to rave reviews of its attendance, education and networking.

Soldier, Atlantic rower and motivational speaker, Rory Mackenzie, strives for success and is constantly searching for new challenges. Ticket holders to the sell-out BP2013 potato industry dinner, will get the opportunity to hear his inspirational story.

FoodDrinkEurope, the trade body representing Europe’s food and drink industry, welcomes the political agreement reached between the EU and Canada on the key elements of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

In the United Kingdom, Members of Parliament (MPs) were treated to a day of potatoes, as Potato Council was sponsored to attend Parliament during Potato Week (7-13 October).

A delayed Red River Valley red potato crop was very late in revealing itself. But by Oct. 3, about 50 percent of the shipping district’s crop had been harvested, according to Ted Kreis, marketing director of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association.

The potato harvest is nearing completion on Prince Edward Island, as growers have been blessed with favourable weather to harvest their valuable crop.