Potato News from Florida

Tasteful Selections announces rebrand of its full line of bite-size potatoes

Innovation will take center stage at Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) refreshed 2018 Fresh Summit Convention and Expo when it convenes in less than two weeks in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The South Florida potato harvest season has started well, with a good healthy crop taking shape. It has been underway for just over a month and despite cooler weather at the start of the year, South Florida crops escaped any major frost damage.

This week more than 2,000 growers, suppliers, and experts will converge at the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry held in North America, Potato Expo 2018.

Potato Expo 2018 announces live streaming Potato TV throughout the event. Voting for the presentations on the Innovation Hub 'Main Stage' is now open.

The new Potato Expo Innovation Hub is now open and accepting abstract submissions for the Potato Expo 2018, the largest convention and trade show for the potato industry in North America.

It’s potato planting time in North Florida. St. Johns County is one of the counties in Northern Florida well known for its potato production with the town of Hastings being the center of it.

Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP), along with Silas Capital and Emil Capital Partners, announced it is leading a $3 million financing round in Florida-based Vintage Italia, the manufacturer of Pasta Chips.

The Golden Flake plant in Ocala is in high gear for the summer, which is a very busy time in the snack food industry:

ARA Food Corporation has increased capacity, improved efficiency and reduced overheads with the installation of the third packaging system. The investment is part of the company’s drive to expand production and grow its business.

Florida potato growers are packing their heaviest seasonal volume. Demand and movement of Florida potatoes remain strong from mid-March through the end of April

Spray Dynamics’ new Slurry On Demand continuous mixer ends the waste and delay normally required to produce pumpable slurries of oil-based seasonings, chocolate, and other coatings.

Fresh Solutions Network announced that Mack Farms has joined their network of best-in-industry grower/shipper partners.

At the National Potato Council (NPC) Annual Meeting on January 9, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, seven NPC
past presidents were invited to come on stage.

POTATO EXPO 2015, held January 7-9, in Orlando, Florida, turned out to be the greatest event
yet for exhibitors and attendees.

United States Potato Board President & CEO Blair Richardson surprised attendees at the POTATO EXPO 2015 with an industry challenge to install 3,000 potato-friendly salad bars in school lunch programs across the United States.

At the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2015 Annual Meeting, held January 9-10, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, Dan Lake from Lake Seed, Inc. of Ronan, Montana, was elected to serve as NPC’s president for 2015 and to lead the council’s Executive Committee.

TOMRA Sorting Food will exhibit its innovative Halo sorting system at Potato Expo 2015, the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry in North America.