Potato News from Australia

July 22, 2019

Collaborative discussion between seed potato schemes

On 10 May, a meeting was held between AuSPICA, members of the Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (known as TasSeed) and invited industry representatives.

July 19, 2019

Intersnack Group to acquire 40% of Universal Robina Oceania

Philippine-based food company Universal Robina (URC) has announced the divestiture of a 40% stake in its Oceania subsidiary, URC Oceania, to the German snack food manufacturer Intersnack.

July 08, 2019

Farmers fight for potato pay as Simplot records $62m profit

Tasmanian potato growers say Simplot is not paying them enough for their vegetables, as they negotiate a new contract with the vegetable processing giant.

June 25, 2019

Australian Potato growers to learn about managing pests and diseases at Potato Industry R&D Forum

Australian potato growers keen to learn about the latest research for managing key pests and diseases on potato farms have an opportunity to listen to leading experts at a Potato Industry Research and Development (R&D) Forum in Melbourne this week.

June 24, 2019

Lamb Weston Signs Agreement to Acquire Australian Frozen Potato Processor Ready Meals Pty Ltd

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ready Meals Pty Ltd (Ready Meals), a frozen potato processor in Australia.

McCain launches craft beer battered chips

June 19, 2019

McCain launches craft beer battered fries in Australia

McCain has launched a range of craft beer battered chips via a new campaign from Cummins&Partners that "challenges the norm" of online advertising with a long and complex audio clip.

June 17, 2019

Complete Snack Solutions on display at Snackex 2019 with Heat and Control and Ishida

The Heat and Control and Ishida (HCI) Alliance is delivering on the promise of a ‘one-stop-shop’ for integrated processing and packaging snack solutions, with an expert team and a selection of the latest innovative equipment design on display at Snackex,

Using Pulse Electric Field Processing (PEF) the patent protected E-FLO Electroporation System provides significant product improvement in chip crunch, taste and texture as well as reduction in acrylamide formation and oil content.

June 11, 2019

Heat and Control: Acrylamide in food

Ever since Swedish scientists discovered acrylamide in food in the early 2000s, there has been growing concerns over the potential negative impact it could have on people’s health.

June 10, 2019

How to reduce seasoning loss during snack food production

The seasoning coverage on a snack food product is an important aspect of the quality a consumer sees, and determines the overall flavour and taste a person experiences.

May 30, 2019

Specialised fryer designs improve productivity and quality

There are many factors to consider when determining the best fryer design for you. Ultimately your product quality will have the highest influence on your decision. Industrial fryer specialist Heat and Control tells more

Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN)-infested roots under high magnification. Cysts, the bodies of female nematodes containing nematode eggs, are initially yellow and darken with age.

May 13, 2019

Analysis of historical specimens shows single origin of Australian Potato Cyst Nematodes

Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are quarantine soilborne pests that damage potatoes around the world, stunting plants and reducing yields.

Potatoes have typically been used in the home as a humble side to accompany a steak or roast chicken, but have you ever tried potato ice-cream? Chef Russell Blaikie says the texture of potatoes is like velvet. (Courtesy: Courtney Holloway / ABC News)

May 07, 2019

Potato industry Western Australia joins global campaign to raise the profile of the potato

Potatoes have typically been used in the home as a humble side to accompany a steak or roast chicken, but have you ever tried potato ice-cream? Chef Russell Blaikie says the texture of potatoes is like velvet.

Climate extremes impact on global crop yield variations. (Courtesy: Alvin Stone / Climate Extremes)

May 06, 2019

Climate extremes explain 18%-43% of global crop yield variations

Researchers from Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the US have quantified the effect of climate extremes, such as droughts or heatwaves, on the yield variability of staple crops around the world.

April 24, 2019

Potato crops left to rot in Western Australia amid flooded market and low prices

Potato growers near Pemberton in Western Australia have been forced to leave more than a thousand tonnes of potatoes on the ground to rot because of oversupply and crippling low prices.

March 05, 2019

McCain Foods to upgrade its Smithton French Fry Plant

McCain Foods is to spend AUD 37 million (USD 26 million) to upgrade its french fry plant in Smithton, Tasmania (Australia).

January 27, 2019

Jonathan Rankin named CEO at Processing and Packaging equipment manufacturer tna

Processing and Packaging equipment manufacturer tna announces the promotion of Jonathan Rankin to Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

December 21, 2018

All Australian markets reopened for WA seed and ware potatoes as surveillance shows potato psyllids not infected

The government of Western Australia has announced that it has succeeded in regaining market access for Western Australian potatoes in all of Australia, following the detection of tomato potato psyllid in February 2017.