Potato News from Northern America

Conventional potato growers can topdress commercial fertilizer to meet a growing potato crop's need for nitrogen, but certified organic growers don't have that option. Meeting the crop's nitrogen needs during the transition period from conventional to...

Two more products have been recalled due to the possibility that they may contain salmonella-tainted hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) from Basic Food Flavors – but fears of a large-scale recall have proved unfounded.At the beginning of March, Food an...

The Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) 19th Annual Potato Lover’s Month Retail Display Contest triggerred retailers to pull out all the stops: Floor-to-ceiling, head-turning displays and increased retailer participation demonstrated that this retail promo...

The Potato Gene Repository at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Potato Research Centre in Fredericton is about to enter a new era with a $500,000 lab expansion.   What is a potato gene repository?   Think of it as a bank where more than 150 variet...

While another batch of first-quarter results from public restaurant companies offered some signs of an industry turnaround, executives cautioned that obstacles remain on the road to recovery. Improved guest traffic and sales trends were reported last...

The last couple of years have been tough on our potato industry. With a high supply and a low demand, it's been a farmer's nightmare. But this year, farmers say things should turn around.Last year the potato industry was hit with the perfect storm. &qu...

Jonathan Abbis has joined the Buhler Group effective February 1, 2010 as President of Buhler Aeroglide, based in Raleigh, North Carolina.He comes to the Buhler Group after more than 20 years in various international and senior management functions for ...

Portion sizes give consumers the ok, they demonstrate the “norm”, the accepted amount that most people are eating or are “supposed” to eat.  This may not be intentional - like the larger portion sizes better value message- but many restaurants, especia...

Happy Meal toys and other promotions that come with high-calorie children’s meals will soon be officially banned in parts of Santa Clara County, unless the restaurants meet nutritional guidelines approved Tuesday by the county Board of Supervisors. &...

The classic Kettle Brand® Potato Chips Lightly Salted flavor is now Sea Salt. The subtle shift in name reflects the all natural ingredients always used in every recipe and captures the brand’s reputation for delivering delicious flavor in every crunch...

ConAgra Foods announced today the winners of its 2010 Sustainable Development Awards, an internal awards program created to recognize outstanding achievements integrating sustainability into business practices while also sharing best practices across the company.

Snack Factory announced today that it will launch its new Modern Classics line of Pretzel Crisps at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide in May. Modern Classics were unveiled at the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, CA on March 12th and...

Funky Monkey Snacks, a leading brand in the healthy snacks category, has announced a new relationship with Kroger that will result in the availability of its snacks in 400 of its stores, including stores in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michiga...

Walker Brothers has received one of two Environmental Stewardship Awards from the National Potato Council.  Along with a farm in Washington State, Walker Brothers farm was praised for their leadership in habitat conservation for wildlife as well as pro...

Many readers are no doubt aware of last summer's late-blight infestation, in which a fungus, Phytophthora infestans, decimated local tomato and potato plantings. The fungus overwinters in southeastern United States but does not generally overwinter in ...

Idaho potato growers are taking to the field this spring without a collective agreement with major processors. The collective bargaining process broke down in Idaho last year following a dispute with ConAgra Foods. Growers blamed ConAgra, and the compa...

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) today announced the election of Edward R. Flanagan of Jasper Wyman &Son, Inc. to be chairman of the AFFI Board of Directors. "The American Frozen Food Institute is fortunate to have such a strong leade...

The Inventure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAK), a leading specialty food manufacturer, today reported record financial results for the first quarter ending March 27, 2010, highlighted by a 9th consecutive quarter of year over year earnings growth, EPS increa...