Potato News from Northern America

Boulder Canyon™ Natural Foods, the fastest-growing natural kettle chip brand in the United States (SpinScan® reporting of Boulder Canyon sales according to A.C. Nielsen data for the 52 weeks ending 12/27/09), continues to build its better-for-you snack...

The Top 200 Canadian restaurant chains managed to grow sales by 1.0 percent and increase overall units by a slightly higher 1.3 percent last year, even as the economy just started easing out of the recession. With total sales of C$23.9 billion, the Top...

Menus around the US are in the process of getting a makeover. The new health care bill will require all restaurants, with 20 or more locations, to include calorie counts on menus, menu boards and drive-thrus. According to Mintel’s latest research, more...

From a mouth watering, movie-inspired appetizer to a family-pleasing one-dish meal, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) announced today the winners of its “Watching Waistlines &Wallets” Recipe Contest.  With a record 1,450 recipes submitted, it’s evi...

Potato growers and shippers planning to bypass a potential repeat of the current volume-heavy and price-light market are advised not to turn to specialty varieties as a solution.

Analysts expect the fast-food industry to grow modestly this year. But the downturn is making them rethink their strategies. After a strong focus on value - sometimes to the detriment of profits - many companies are now introducing higher-priced items ...

Canadian Popcorn lovers rejoice! Orville Redenbacher's is adding a new look and flavour to its line of popcorn, shaking up snack time like never before with the launch of Spicy Nacho.Two thirds of Canadians feel that a variety of flavours is a key cons...

American Vanguard Corp. (NYSE:AVD) and its subsidiary Amvac Chemical Corporation today announced plans to introduce a new crop protection product that inhibits the growth of sprouts on potatoes.

Bruce Huffaker, editor of North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) forecasts the total area planted to potatoes in Canada to be 356,000 acres - 15,100 fewer acres than planted in 2009, a 4.1% reduction.

Wild potato germplasm that offers resistance to some major potato diseases has been identified by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.

On Thursday, May 10th the EPA announced that it would begin phasing out all uses of the organochlorine pesticide endosulfan. According to the Agency the pesticide is particularly harmful to both workers and the environment.

A recent survey conducted commission by the Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems shows that Canadians of all provinces are highly supportive of intervention by governments in a fight against the obesity epidemic. Significantly, 86% of responden...

Científicos del Servició de Investigación Agrícola (ARS) han identificado germoplasma de una especie silvestre de papa que ofrece resistencia a algunas enfermedades principales de la papa.

Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc., the third-largest U.S. fast-food company, has become a stock takeover target, according to a filing made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Chairman Nelson Peltz advised the SEC that he had received an in...

After 15 months, there’s been no change in lifting a retaliatory tariff placed on U.S. frozen potato imports. During that time, U.S. potato shipments to Mexico declined by 50 percent, according to the Washington State Potato Commission.   But Canadian ...

BASF plans to strengthen its support services for the food and beverage industry and has established a new Nutrition Ingredients Innovation Laboratory at its technical center in Tarrytown, New York. BASF closed its existing laboratory in Ledgewood, New...

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that public comments are now being accepted on the Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,...

A fungus that could seriously damage Manitoba's multimillion-dollar commercial potato industry has been spotted at commercial nurseries, Manitoba Agriculture says. The provincial agency has issued a warning to residential gardeners after "late b...