Potato News from the United States

McCormick & Company and Unilever has announced that they have entered into an agreement to combine McCormick with Unilever's Foods business excluding India and other excluded businesses ('Unilever Foods')

Picture it: You’ve traveled three days — nearly 250,000 miles. You step off the space shuttle onto the powdery surface of the moon. You think to yourself, 'Man, fries would hit hard right about now.'

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), starchy vegetables such as potatoes can be included in the diet of a person with diabetes.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LW) has announced its results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 and updated its full year financial targets for fiscal 2026.

Secondary packaging in 2026 focuses on sustainability, retail-ready designs, recyclable variety packs, and robotics. BPA supports food producers with efficient, cost-saving automation while ensuring EPR compliance and optimized machine TCO.

Maine marked its 206th birthday on March 15, 2026, celebrating its admission as the 23rd state of the United States in 1820. While blueberries symbolize the state, potatoes remain a vital part of Maine’s agricultural heritage and economy.

The Idaho Potato Commission board approved an increase to its budget for the fiscal year ending August 31, following strong potato production in 2025 and continued momentum in the market.

Heat and Control will showcase snack processing innovations at SNX 2026, including high-speed packaging, precise seasoning, and water recirculation tech that cuts freshwater use by up to 75%, improving efficiency, sustainability, and product quality.

Potato producers in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota are facing delays in securing seasonal workers through the H-2A visa program, raising concerns about potential impacts on the 2026 crop year.

The Kraft Heinz Company has introduced the HEINZ Dipper, a newly designed fry box with an integrated ketchup compartment that allows consumers to dip fries easily while on the go.

Cape Cod has launched limited-edition Lemon Herb Butter potato chips for spring, featuring citrus, herbs and buttery seasoning on its signature kettle chips. The new flavor is rolling out at Walmart, Publix and Target, with strong fan buzz online.

APM Steam cuts steam losses and downtime in food facilities with expert trap surveys, finding failures, boosting energy efficiency, ensuring safe condensate removal, and giving ROI-backed repair plans for improved operations and compliance.

Ben Sklarczyk, a third-generation Michigan grower and owner of Sklarczyk Seed Farm, was elected 2026 President of the National Potato Council. He plans to promote potatoes in nutrition programs, support fair trade, and boost grower policy engagement.

During Potato Lover's Month, NPGA is recognizing the growers who contribute to the region’s four key sectors: Fresh, Processing, Chip, and Seed. Each week in February, one sector is featured. This week, the spotlight is on the chip sector.

Intralox and Conveyor & Automation Technologies modernized Herr Foods end-of-line operations, boosting throughput 25% to 150 cpm, expanding to 20 lines and 600 SKUs, saving USD 650k+ annually, and improving safety—within the existing footprint.

Tom Wild of Wild Seed Farms Inc., Antigo, Wisconsin, and Gary and Lynda Bula, owners of Gary Bula Farms Inc., Oxford, were inducted into the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Hall of Fame

Grimmway Produce Group’s Cal-Organic Farms launched a year-round organic bite-size potato line with gold, red, medley, fingerling, and novelty nibbles in mesh packs, expanding convenience. Orders start March 9 after debut at SEPC Southern Exposure.

MoistTech Corp, the global leader in moisture measurement and control, will participate in SNX 2026, taking place March 29–31, 2026, in Dallas, Texas.