News on The Potato Supply Chain

In a study published this summer, scientists of the Washington State University found that potato virus S (PVS) breaks down late blight resistance in potato.

Belgian Potato packer Pomuni has acquired its competitor Potato Masters in order to scale up operations in a stagnant European potato market [Update: no, they did not]

Keystone Food Products is pleased to announce that its signature line of snacks, The Real Deal Snacks, has received the Non-GMO Project Verified seal from the Non-GMO Project, an independent verification that assures a product has been produced according to best practices for GMO avoidance.

Dewulf, specialist in harvesting technology for potatoes and carrots, handed the key of the 20th Dewulf harvester of this season to the proud new owner, Geert Vansteelant.

The dates have been set for the famous UK Potato Week 2014; running from 6-12 October the campaign will celebrate the humble potato and encourage mums to ‘trade-up’ from generic whites to named varieties.

While weed resistance issues have been grabbing many headlines over the past few years, fungicide resistance has become an increasingly important issue this growing season—and likely for future growing seasons if sound resistance management practices are not adopted.

With two months still to go before the opening of INTERPOM | PRIMEURS 2014, the event is already bigger than last time – and virtually fully booked.

In 2013 Norton Farm Potatoes invested in a grading line designed and manufactured by Tong Peal. Therefore, Tong Peal were the first port of call when increased throughput meant they needed to add to their machinery.

La Asociación Latinoamericana de la Papa (ALAP) realizará el XXVI Congreso bienal entre el 28 de Septiembre y 2 de Octubre de 2014 en la ciudad de Bogotá. A continuación se ofrecen el esquema general y los trabajos aprobados para la modalidad de poster y presentación oral.

Researchers of the Institute of Ecology (INECOL) in Mexico have identified a fungus capable of feeding on nematodes. Combining this biological control with other methods in an integrated management system reduced the golden nematode population by up to 90 percent in two years.

El programa denominado “Recuperación de la producción y Sanidad de la papa en Magallanes” fue recientemente aprobado por el Consejo Regional (Core) y tendrá un plazo de ejecución de 36 meses.

New Zealand Potato production in 2013, at 525,000 metric tons, was marginally (5%) ahead of 2012 production. t is likely planted areas in 2014 will be similar to 2013, with production in the range of 500,000 to 550,000MT.

Tesco Northern Ireland’s commercial manager Cliff Kells has confirmed that sales of ‘Comber’ potatoes more than doubled, year-on-year, in local Tesco outlets during the months of July and August.

Canada's private potato breeders are calling for a bigger say in how new varieties are developed in Canada.

The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimates that the upcoming
Potato harvest could set a new record, even higher than 2011 when production reached
26.8 million tons.

The value of all U.S. potato exports reached $1,755,544,515 for the recently completed July 2013 – June 2014 marketing year. This is an expanded version of an earlier publication.

'We still have faith in the future of the starch potato in Germany,' said Gebhard Bakker, Chairman of the Bundesverbandes der Stärkekartoffelerzeuger e.V. (BVS) (producers' association for starch potatoes) on the occasion of a press conference on September 3 at the PotatoEurope 2014

HZPC has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Rungis for its Perupas specialty potatoes.