Potato News from Europe

McCain Foods announced July 24th that it intends to acquire 100% of the shares of CêlaVíta B.V., a subsidiary of Bieze Food Group BV, owned by the German Wernsing Group, located in Wezep (The Netherlands).

Potato growers have cut production by as much as 27pc in the past two years in an effort to curb losses on the crop.

Because of an exclusive sponsorship deal with McDonald's, none of the other 800 food retailers on the grounds of 40 Olympic sites will be allowed to sell 'chips or french fries'during the fortnight of the Games.

Potato growers are facing many weather-related challenges and recent warm, wet weather has led to a massive increase in the number of Smith Periods this year so far, says Potato Council executive and blight specialist Gary Collins.

On July 2nd, 2012, the Agrico Group acquired all the shares of the Finnish Perunaseppä OY through its subsidiary Agrico Nordic AB, Sweden.

McDonald's, uno de los major sponsors de los JJOO, dejará de tener el monopolio para vender el producto más pedido en las instalaciones. Sin embargo, la liberación no es total El personal que trabaja sin descanso para tener todo listo de cara a la cer...

otato processing company Aviko has launched a frozen sweet potato fry product for the foodservice trade based on research that suggests consumers perceive the product as a healthy and attractive option, especially for families.

UK and Ireland growers and packers can now count on the support of a new local approved service agent for Wyma equipment.

One year after the protest against the test fields for GM potatoes in Ghent, the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) has been given the green light for a second phase of research.

About half of British potato growers do not calculate crop need. Many still irrigate a fixed quantity, regardless of rainfall and evaporation rates, leading to either wasteful or insufficient application of water.

Essex-based potato farm Fairfields in the UK has invested in a brand new packing, processing and manufacturing unit, boosting jobs in the local area.

otato Council is seeking nominations for this year's British Potato Industry Award.

Farmers expect to export fewer Jersey Royal potatoes in 2012 compared with previous years.

The West Midlands Potato Day, held at Corfton Farms, Craven Arms, on June 20, was a huge success again this year.

McCain Foods in the UK is dropping the loyalty scheme through which consumers could earn ‘Spud Shillings’ by buying McCain products or playing games on its website.

Everyone who attended the World Potato Congress last month agreed that WPC 2012 was a huge success. Now, speaker presentations and video's are available online. It's a great opportunity to have another look at the great presentations or take a look at...

Dutch tests on a new strain of potato blight similar to that discovered for the first time in the UK last year have shown some isolates have reduced sensitivity to the common active fluazinam used to control the disease.

Solynta's fast hybrid potato breeding program one of the three nominees for the 2012 Food Valley Award. Potatoes are the world's third most important food crop after rice and wheat. They are significantly more efficient in their use of water and nutri...