Potato News from Northern America

Union Pacific says the dehydrated potato flakes it was hauling caused a costly derailment at its biggest railyard because Idahoan Foods did not properly clean the wheels of its freight cars.

The 13 major potato States held 232 million cwt of potatoes in storage December 1, 2010, down 13 percent from a year ago.

Though potato fields yielded average amounts, the crop quality in Maine was better than last year, growers and industry representatives said Monday.

Diacetyl - a chemical used in butter flavoring – may damages the lungs by reacting and forming complexes with amino acids in cell membranes, according to a new US study.

Diamond Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq:DMND) today reported strong financial performance for its first quarter of fiscal 2011 and increased guidance for the full-year.

When it comes to calories, parents lack a basic understanding of their impact on weight and may even be skeptical that calories are just the latest food and nutrition fad.

America’s number one potato, the Idaho® potato, has earned another number one title: Best Agricultural Cooperative Website.

Bayer CropScience today announced that is has divested certain crop protection products to Amvac Chemical Corporation (Amvac)

Wise Foods Inc., a leading regional salty snack company, announced that it has completed a new $48 million credit facility.

Better Made Potato Chips is planning to move its growing $17 million private label potato stick manufacturing business to a new facility.

ConAgra Foods Inc (CAG.N) cut its 2011 earnings outlook for the second time after quarterly results were weaker than expected, underscoring the difficulties facing the U.S. food industry.

When the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture renews talks with Mexico this week, potatoes should be on the plate, say U.S. Senators from Idaho and Washington.

McCain Superfries® brand has been voted #1 by Canadian families in the Second Annual Canadian Family 2010 Food Awards.

Lance, Inc. (Nasdaq: LNCE), and Snyder’s of Hanover, Inc. announced today the completion of their merger, first announced on July 22nd, 2010.

Private label leaders returned from the recent PLMA conference in Chicago with lots of information to digest and new ideas on how to drive growth in 2011.