News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

The Canadian Potato Council has elected a new leader for 2014, John Bareman.

Según una reciente investigación de las Universidades de Kansas y California-Davis, el Centro Internacional de la Papa y el Instituto Internacional de Investigación del Arroz.

Times have changed for Alberta potato growers. Up until four years ago, the province was virtually late blight-free. Lately, wet springs and high humidity — uncharacteristic for this region — have nurtured the growth and spread of the disease.

Everyone knows that burgers and fries are best friends, making it an easy decision for the Prince Edward Island Potato Board to be a partner in the 2014 edition of PEI Burger Love (www.peiburgerlove.ca).

Cavendish Farms potato farming operations in Presque Isle, Maine are being suspended indefinitely.

There are two likely scenarios facing U.S. potato growers in the 2014-15 season, and neither of them is sunny, according to Jerry Wright, president and chief executive officer of the United Potato Growers of America, Salt Lake City.

Manitoba potato farmers could face steeper cuts in contracted potato production unless they can become more cost competitive with other areas of North America, a senior official with McCain Foods says.

Idaho potato farmers who sell to McCain Foods have agreed to a contract that maintains roughly the same pricing as last season, said Dan Hargraves, who negotiated on their behalf as executive director of Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative.

Twenty-four potato growers and industry representatives joined together to form the 2014 class of the Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI), an annual program jointly administered by the National Potato Council (NPC) and the United States Potato Board (USPB) that identifies and cultivates the next generation of leaders within the industry.

The third largest manufacturer of Sweet Potato Fries in North America - Russet House, has launched Organic Sweet Potato Fries.

Kathleen Triou - former VP of Domestic Marketing for the U.S. Potato Board - has accepted an offer to lead Fresh Solutions Network (FSN).

Sandi Aarestad who operates Valley Tissue Culture near Halstad, Minnesota received the Meritorious Service Award from the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association

Rick Vivatson of Cavalier, North Dakota became the Northern Plains Potato Grower's Association's 65th Chairman.

Potato growers from throughout Washington state visited the state’s capital this week as part of the annual Potato Day event held in Olympia, Washington

On February 6, the Idaho Advertising Federation presented I.E. Productions, an Idaho Falls Multimedia Advertising agency with a 1st place Diamond Gem Advertising Award in the Magazine Category for a series of print ads they produced for Klondike Brands™ potatoes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the United States Potato Board. The board is composed of producers, importers and a public member, with approximately one-third of the board appointed each year.

Potatoes bred to make great potato chips were the feature attraction at the annual unveiling of new potato varieties at the federal Potato Research Centre in Fredericton this week.

Resultados de nuevos estudios por científicos con el ARS sugieren que un tratamiento con el ácido salicílico podría prevenir o reducir la infección de plantas de cultivos por el fitoplasma de la punta morada de la papa, el cual es una bacteria sin paredes celulares.