Potato News from the Americas

Ellips will showcase four AI-powered potato and onion grading solutions at the Global Produce & Floral Show 2026 in Orlando, highlighting automation, labor savings, defect detection, higher throughput, CombiGrader and CleanFlow Pre-Sorter.

Deprez has partnered with Exeter Engineering to strengthen its presence in North America. The collaboration will focus on providing automated solutions to improve product flow, storage and handling for citrus processors and packers.

Lamb Weston has appointed Sean M. Krajnik as Vice President of Manufacturing. He will oversee several U.S. production facilities, bringing more than 25 years of experience in plant operations, operational excellence, and people development.

PepsiCo will invest USD 1 billion in Colombia over five years to expand production and distribution, an investment that could strengthen its potato supply chain, where it is already the country’s largest industrial buyer at around 84,000 tonnes per year.

Urschel and KRONEN will showcase cutting and line-building solutions at The Global Produce and Floral Show 2026, including the Little Gem Aspire Dicer and GS 10-2 Slicer, alongside equipment for washing, drying and peeling.

Heat and Control will showcase potato processing, seasoning, packaging and thermal processing technologies at Pack Expo International 2026, including Cascade Water Recirculation, Symphony Seasoning and Tek-Dry solutions.

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.

Idahoan Foods launches Ultimate Mashed Potatoes, a premium line made with 100% REAL Idaho® Potatoes. Available in Garlic Butter and Loaded Baked varieties, the new range delivers bold flavors and restaurant-style comfort in minutes.

FAM STUMABO will showcase the Yuran Hytec 300 EC, SureTec 240 and Centris 400C at PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago, highlighting industrial cutting solutions for potato and food processors focused on efficiency, consistency and yield.

Saratoga Potato Chips recalls J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Potato Chips in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Maryland over undeclared soy. Consumers with allergies should avoid affected packages and return them for a refund.

El Niño has reached a record 3.05°C, surpassing the 2015 high. Scientists warn the powerful event could worsen heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires and food insecurity as global temperatures continue to rise.

A FinanceBuzz and Bank of America survey finds 63 percent of Americans use food delivery monthly, while high fees influence ordering decisions, with 68 percent abandoning a delivery order after seeing the final cost.

Urschel will showcase its Little Gem Aspire™ Dicer at Tecno Fidta 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from September 15-18. The compact dicer is designed for continuous produce cutting and streamlined food processing operations.

Keogh's Crisps has secured its largest overseas distribution deal, bringing five crisp flavours to 1,400 Publix stores in the United States, now its largest export market.

The National Potato Congress 2026 will bring together the Mexican potato sector from October 14 to 16 in Mexico City to address innovation, productivity, sustainability and commercialization.

European potato supplies are tightening as acreage declines and heatwaves pressure yields. France is particularly affected by severe water stress, prompting CNIPT to call for purchasing and sales strategies to reflect current market conditions.

Pringles is launching Dippers, its first thicker, sturdier and wavier crisps designed for dipping, in three flavors this September. The brand is also expanding its Mingles range with a new Sweet & Salty flavor.

Hansen Farms in Rupert, Idaho, is preparing for its September 14 potato harvest as summer heat affects crop quality and water concerns grow. The fourth-generation farm grows seven potato varieties across about 60 fields.