Potato News from Japan

Japan's largest fresh potato production region - Hokkaido - was struck by four typhoons in August of 2016. Approximately 24,000 ha of land received damaging levels of rain and flooding, including areas producing fresh potatoes.

To welcome autumn this year, the luxurious ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs brings back “Murasaki Imo”, or “Purple Potato” ice cream as it was revealed to be the third most loved flavor by fans.

Toshiyuki Hata, CEO at the Japanese company Hata Foods explains the impact of the installation of a TOMRA Orbit 150 steam peeler, brusher, washer, and a TOMRA Genius B1200 sorting machine on the production of their 'potato salad base'

In Japan, you can now buy coriander-and-pork-flavored potato chips.

Japanese snack food maker Koikeya extends its line of 'breakfast' potato chips - yes, you are supposed to eat them as breakfast in the morning - with two new flavors: 'Toast' and 'Milk'

Japanese snack maker Calbee has recently released two new potato chip flavors (in Japan), and it looks like they could add quite a bit of zest to your snack life.

It is still winter in Japan, but snack makers are already coming out with a taste of Spring: Sakura (Cherry-Blossom) - Butter

McDonald's Japan just announced the McChoco Potato, french fries drizzled with two chocolate sauces, a limited time offer available starting January 26

Every month, Japan seems to get a new odd-flavored snack or candy. You might think that’s peculiar, but just know that many Japanese people do, too.

After several years of negotiations, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) has agreed to allow US chipping potatoes to be transported overland from an international port to an approved processing facility in Kagoshima.

TOMRA Sorting Food has launched a Japanese website, underlining the importance of Japan to the company’s global business strategy.

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan has stopped selling fries, as industrial disputes that have crimped potato exports from the US took another bite out of the country's fast food market.

McDonald's Japan is to only sell small portions of fries starting December 17, in response to the french fry shortage in the country.

Restaurants in Japan are rushing to secure supplies of french fries after shipment delays from the US, with one chain readying to airlift 200 tons of fries.

Global Foodservice Sales Reach US$2.6 Trillion in 2013

According to the Japanese food website entabe.jp McDonald's Japan will offer this fall for a limited time a purple sweet potato milkshake.

McDonald's Japan offers free french fries cupholders.

Hayashi Seimen, a Nagoya noodle manufacturer, recently launched a noodle made with 5% dehydarted potato.