News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

Potato retail sales in the United States increased in dollar value by 17.2% but decreased in volume sales by -1.3% from October – December 2022 compared to the same timeframe a year ago.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) scientists have discovered that selenium, a micronutrient and anti-oxidant activates genes in potatoes that boosts the plant's immunity and helps in the prevention of late blight.

USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) recently announced funding (USD 6.8M) for Potatoes and Pests – Actionable Science Against Nematodes (nicknamed PAPAS).

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing CAD 98,970 (USD 74,193) through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) to upgrade the University of Manitoba's Horticulture Storage Facility so it can conduct innovative potato research

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has a new partner to improve the efficiency of seed potato production at the Starks Early Generation Seed Potato Farm in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

Total Canadian Potato Storage Holdings on January 11, 2023 are down slightly (-0.4%) over 2022 numbers for the same period, but are still 5.84% above the 3-yr. average, mostly due to the increased size of the crop in the last two years.

As John Griffin retires, World Potato Congress announces new leadership: Peter VanderZaag as President and CEO, Nora Olsen as Vice President and Brian Douglas as Director.

Potato Week, presented by Peak of the Market Ltd., is back for a fifth year of delicious dishes featuring Manitoba-grown potatoes.

On Jan. 4-5, more than 1,800 U.S. potato growers and industry members from a dozen countries turned out for Potato Expo 2023, hosted by the National Potato Council, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado

In 2020, HZPC Americas launched the multi-year project 'Potato Glory' together with the University of Massachusetts Dining Program (UMass) for the purpose of conducting research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is awarding USD 202.7 million to more than 60 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand export markets for U.S. farm and food products through the Market Access Program.

Gusmano and Ryan Norton of Walther Farms were elected chair and vice-chair, respectively, during the MPIC meeting in East Lansing on Dec. 15, 2022.

University of Idaho researchers are introducing genes from a plant in the nightshade family into potatoes, seeking to develop spuds that resist harmful nematodes.  The plant, called ‘litchi tomato’, has natural resistance to several species of cyst and root-knot nematodes.

In only the third time in its 74-year history, the National Potato Council released a new logo that better reflects its public policy focus and roots in Washington, D.C.

Scientists at the University of Maine are evaluating if lobster shells can cultivate beneficial microbial communities that ward off soil borne potato pathogens.

The UK's leading vegetable handling equipment manufacturer will be showcasing two washing and grading innovations at Potato Expo next month in Colorado, US.

Julio Kalazich will be the speaker at the first World Potato Congress webinar of 2023 on January 24, 2023 at 9:00 am ET. He will address Potato Breeding in the South American Countries Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay in English followed by the presentation in Spanish at 10:00 am ET.

Across the globe, restaurants are back to operating at normal capacity, borders are opening for tourism, and many consumers are looking for high-quality, nutritious food options, all leading to strong demand for US potatoes.