Potato News from the Americas

A new webpage by the Michigan Potato Industry Commission offers growers tools to identify and manage late blight, featuring pathogen details, outbreak protocols, fungicide advice and links to monitoring organizations.

P.E.I. potato farmers face major crop losses as drought grips the island. With only 10% irrigated land, yields are falling below average. Farmers like Andrew Lawless expect 30% losses, warning climate change demands urgent investment in irrigation.

Renaissance BioScience Corp. secured an Australian patent on Sept 4, 2025, for its yeast-based RNA platform, targeting the Colorado Potato Beetle with eco-friendly biopesticides. It also eyes animal and human health markets.

Kraft Heinz will split into two tax-free, independent public companies: Global Taste Elevation Co. and North American Grocery Co. Goal: simplify structure, boost focus, drive growth, and unlock shareholder value. Deal expected in 2026.

El gobierno de Colombia lanzó un plan de apoyo para pequeños productores de papa en Nariño, que incluye compra pública a precio justo y apertura de nuevos mercados para enfrentar la crisis generada por el contrabando y los bajos precios.

En 2025, la superficie sembrada de papa en EE. UU. cayó a su nivel más bajo en más de 70 años, con 369.000 hectáreas, aunque los altos rendimientos previstos mitigarán el impacto en la producción total.

TNA Solutions will showcase the tna conti-pro PEL 3 fryer and integrated systems at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2025, booth W‑2350, offering efficient pellet/extruded snack frying, seamless distribution, automated packaging, and less waste.

FPS Food Process Solutions expands its End-to-End French fry processing expertise with senior hires Dave Rogers, Mike Holden & Ronald Muller, bringing decades of global potato industry experience to enhance operations, projects & customer support.

United States retail sales of potatoes maintained strong volume over the nine months from July 2024 to March 2025. Despite a small (-0.5%) drop in dollar sales to USD 14.72 billion

The first container of locally grown potatoes produced by Lamb Weston will soon depart from the port of Mar del Plata bound for Brazil, marking a milestone for both the company and the region.

La oferta debería mantenerse elevada durante las próximas semanas y no se esperan, en principio, aumentos en los precios de comercialización.

Una porción de papas fritas cuesta más que una bolsa de papas en el mercado. La situación es insostenible y se declara emergencia en el sector.

Chick-fil-A launches new menu items Aug. 18, including the Pretzel Cheddar Club Sandwich, Cherry Berry beverages, and Waffle Potato Chips in Original and Chick-fil-A Sauce flavors, available as a side, snack, or retail bag in select locations.

Drought across Maine, with 80% of the state affected, threatens potato harvests. Experts warn stunted growth, urging irrigation. The USD 1.3 Billion industry faces risks as relief isn’t expected until early autumn.

Agristo, a leading Belgian potato processor with six global branches, will invest USD 450M in its first North American facility in Grand Forks. Construction starts 2026, with production set for fall 2028.

Chef Catherine McCord teams up with McCain® Foods this back-to-school season to make mealtime easier and more joyful. McCain® Smiles—crispy, fun potato sides ready in under 10 minutes—bring families together with simple recipes and shared smiles.

Potatoes are the main vegetable crop in Uruguay, where production volume (20% of total vegetables), level of consumption (30 kg/inhabitant/year), and nutritional benefits make potatoes a staple food that contributes to food security.

Reading Bakery Systems (RBS), a global leader in snack food production systems, has announced a significant expansion of its Customer Care team to provide enhanced support for customers worldwide.