Potato News from Northern America

The National Potato Council and 13 state potato organizations in the United States have urged the USDA to reinstate a ban on fresh potato imports from Prince Edward Island following a new Potato Wart detection.

Royal HZPC Group continues growing its global seed potato volume above 1.1 million tonnes during the 2025/2026 financial year, despite global potato market pressure, lower prices, weaker demand and declining margins.

AIVA launches to help Canadian farmers adopt proven agtech through real-world testing on farms nationwide. Backed by FCC, EMILI and WHIN, the network connects farmers and innovators to validate tools that boost efficiency and productivity.

Grimmway Produce Group launches a unified corporate website, bringing its brands under one platform. The site highlights products, careers, and impact, marking a new phase of growth, integration, and engagement.

Pringles continues expanding its potato chip lineup with a wide range of savory, spicy, salty and seasonal flavors designed to appeal to snack fans across different tastes and occasions worldwide.

World Potato Congress Inc. will host a webinar on May 15, 2026, on planning for the International Day of the Potato, featuring FAO’s Makiko Taguchi and potato expert Dr André Devaux.

Potatoes USA has opened nominations for new board members for the 2027 term. The board is seeking nominees to fill 55 open seats, with all terms beginning in March 2027. The Potatoes USA board is currently seeking qualified nominees to succeed outgoing members in several states.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging helps U.S food manufacturers extend shelf life, preserve freshness, and ensure quality. However, filling packages with the right gas mix is only part of the process-testing the gas inside is essential to maintain safety.

United States potato growers are facing continued pressure from rising production costs, labor expenses and oversupply in several sectors of the potato industry, according to the National Potato Council.

Residents in Woodstock, New Brunswick, are seeking legal action over noise, odour and traffic concerns related to the Covered Bridge Potato Chips production facility.

Chip potato movement remains slow and steady as the industry transitions from storage potatoes to new-crop potatoes.

Utz Brands reported Q1 2026 net sales growth of 2.6% to USD 361.3 million, while branded salty snacks sales rose 5.2%. The company improved margins and cash flow performance and reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance.

Americold’s 2025 Sustainability Report highlights a 21% emissions cut since 2021, expanded renewable energy use, USD 23 Million in efficiency upgrades, improved safety metrics, and strong facility reliability driven by data and engineering.

Urschel will return to the National Restaurant Association Show from May 16-19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, where the company will showcase a range of Urschel and KRONEN cutting and food processing solutions at Booth 2448.

The Little Potato Company launches a dedicated Foodservice Solutions division, offering versatile Little Potatoes, sous-vide options, and bulk packs to help operators boost efficiency, cut prep time, and ensure consistent quality across menus.

Utz Quality Foods, LLC is recalling limited Zapp’s and Dirty chips after a seasoning ingredient may contain Salmonella. No illnesses reported. Consumers should not eat affected products and can request refunds.

Researchers at Michigan State University have developed five new potato varieties designed to strengthen the United States potato chip supply through improved disease resistance, storage performance and processing reliability.

AVR has named Farm Power Equipment Inc. its exclusive Ontario dealer, boosting local support, parts access & service for potato growers, effective immediately.