Potato News from Australia

February 03, 2016

Research in Australia to help potato growers and industry

The impact of drought and water quality on Australian potatoes could be significantly reduced by a new research project from Potatoes South Australia and Landmark Australia.

Australian Potato Farmers reminded to watch out for late blight - but no aggressive strains detected in the country

January 17, 2016

Australian Potato Farmers reminded to watch out for late blight - but no aggressive strains have been detected

Australian potato growers are being reminded to prepare for late blight, a potato disease that strikes when conditions are humid, stagnant and warm.

November 05, 2015

Potato packers missing out on sales by not listing potato variety or best before date?

Providing Australian consumers with more information on the package such as the potato variety and their uses would encourage them to buy more potatoes, according to the latest wave of Potato Tracker research.

September 30, 2015

The Smith's Snackfood Company is to close its Western Australian chips plant

Smith's Snackfood Company said it will close the its chip manufacturing plant in Canning Vale (Western Australia) next year.

Australian farmers breed purple potato with the right colour ánd taste

September 20, 2015

Australian farmers breed purple potato with the ideal colour ánd taste

Australian potato breeders Peter and Sandra Scott believe they bred the purple potato with the ideal colour and taste

John van Duin, tna's group solutions manager processing for Asia Pacific

September 17, 2015

tna supports Asia Pacific customers with the appointment of John van Duin as dedicated processing manager

Packaging and processing solutions provider, tna, is pleased to announce the appointment of John van Duin as its new group solutions manager – processing for Asia Pacific.

September 03, 2015

Australian Consumer Research Potato-Tracker wave 10 available

Potatoes are becoming more appealing to Australia’s innovative home chefs ('Eager Explorers') who are searching for the next exciting food trend, according to new consumer research.

August 19, 2015

British Tyrrells Crisps acquired Australian Yarra Valley Snack Foods

UK chip brand, Tyrrells Potato Crisps Ltd, has acquired the Australian company Yarra Valley Snack Foods, producer of the Thomas Chipman Organic Chips range.

August 10, 2015

Australian consumers favour pre-packaged potatoes in a small bag

Consumer research in Australia, Potato Tracker, has shown that Australian consumers prefer to purchase pre-packaged potatoes, with one to two kilogram packages as the ideal sizes.

July 22, 2015

Tasmanian specialist potato grower exports as far as Dubai

Tasmania's fresh potato growers are building mainstream markets for unusual potatoes, all the way to Dubai.

Mashed potato dish prepared from RTE mash (Mestari, Finland)

July 20, 2015

Australian Research: Producing Premium Potato Products from waste potatoes

The South Australian Potato Industry has received funding of $100,000 to enable a project to add value to potatoes which are graded-out due to size or shape and do not meet supermarket specifications.

July 16, 2015

One Third of Aussies can't name a single Potato Variety

It appears that many Australians don’t know their King Edwards from their Kennebecs, with the latest wave of the Potato Tracker consumer research project indicating that some people can’t name a single variety of potato, despite being the most commonly purchased vegetable commodity.

Yum Tasmania Gourmet potatoes. Purple Bliss is the darkest coloured potato on the right

July 15, 2015

Australia: Purple Bliss potato could become family favourite

The new ‘purple bliss’ potato (grown in Tasmania and bred in Idaho) could become a family favourite now that it has begun producing commercial quantities, and 20 tonnes are making their way to supermarket shelves.

Australian potato grower Tony Cummaudo of Cummaudo Farms

July 09, 2015

Australian potato grower calls for group effort in marketing of potatoes

The potato industry within Australia needs to come together to develop a plan and make potatoes appealing again from a marketing perspective, to solve the oversupply issues plaguing the industry. That is the message from grower Tony Cummaudo, of Cummaudo Farms.

July 08, 2015

McCain Foods Australia to invest $10 million in Smithton plant (Tasmania)

McCain Foods Australia/New Zealand will spend up to $10 million dollars over the next two years upgrading onsite storage facilities and building a new packing line at the Smithton plant in Circular Head, Northern Tasmania.

July 06, 2015

Simplot agreed to take surplus potatoes in Tasmania

This season, potato processor Simplot agreed to take surplus potatoes in Tasmania.

Major Potato growing areas in South Australia (Courtesy: mrpotatosa.com.au)

June 18, 2015

South Australia plans export of high quality crisping and seed potatoes to Thailand and Malaysia.

South Australia will actively pursue the Asian market for export of its crisping and seed potatoes.

June 14, 2015

Keynote Speakers National Horticulture Convention in Queensland, Australia

A Tasmanian potato grower - known for her innovative use of the vegetable - has been announced as a keynote speaker at this year's National Horticulture Convention in Queensland, later this month.