News on Research from the United States

Scientists have found evidence that humans can pick up a sixth taste associated with carbohydrate-rich foods. The findings might explain why we love such starchy foods so much.

United Potato Growers of America President/CEO, Jerry Wright, announced his coming retirement at the August 23 Board of Directors meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In New York City, the world’s largest potato on wheels traded its tires for buoys in celebration of the 2016 Idaho® Potato Harvest.

USDA staff from the AMS Plant Variety Protection Office and APHIS Biotech Regulatory Services on a tour of the Sterman Masser Potato Farm facilities in central Pennsylvania on August 23.

When reviewing the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) website analytics for the past year (August 2015-August 2016), IPC staff wasn’t surprised to find that Dr. Potato (alias Don Odiorne, Vice President-Foodservice) had garnered 959,328 page views, nearly 50% of all www.idahopotato.com views.

During the Potatoes USA Summer Meeting held in Seattle August 10, it was announced that the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) has been restructured in an effort to minimize overhead costs and expand research on potato nutrition.

Earlier this year, Lamb Weston's opened its new Innovation Center in Richland, with co-creation spaces, fully functioning kitchens and a pilot line. The interior was designed by Lamb Westons design agency, Williams Murray Hamm brand agency (WMH), also responsible for Lamb Weston's new global branding

Justin Clements, a fifth year doctoral student in the Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center working in the Department of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is the recipient of the 2016-2017 NPC Academic Scholarship.

The University of Idaho is negotiating a partnership with the International Potato Center in Lima, Peru, involving the sharing of scientific expertise and providing UI’s potato program better access to a vast gene bank.

Participants at the 25th annual Texas Potato Breeding and Variety Development Program field day learned that the harvest is underway, that psyllids are threatening unharvested fields and that new varieties are showing lots of promise.

Potatoes USA is pleased to announce Rachael Lynch has joined its staff as a Global Marketing Manager for institutional foodservice

The annual Potato Field Day in the High Plains featuring the Texas A&M University AgriLife Potato Breeding and Variety Development Program will be July 21.

After five years as the president and CEO of the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE), Maureen Storey, Ph.D., is no longer leading the organization.

On July 15, Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan announced a series of appointments and re-appointments to the Michigan Potato Industry Commission

Maine potato farmers have wrapped up planting and are hoping for a good year.

Potatoes USA announced earlier this month that nominations are now open for new Board Members for the 2017-2020 term.

Purple potatoes might not be the first thing that comes to mind when trying to increase vitamin, mineral and antioxidant intake. However, a group of researchers from CSU have recently developed potato varieties that satisfy these nutritional needs and could act as a preventive measure to several diseases.

Congress is pushing the Agriculture Department to exempt groups such as Potatoes USA (formerly known as the United States Potato Board) from public scrutiny of their internal operations (Freedom of Information Act).