News on Potato Varieties and Seed from the Americas

En Estados Unidos, la FDA avaló la papa Russet Burbank II de J. R. Simplot, una variedad GMO desarrollada con resistencia natural al *Phytophthora infestans*, al considerarla tan segura como las convencionales y capaz de reducir pesticidas y mejorar el almacenamiento.

Embrapa has introduced the BRS F21 potato cultivar to meet the needs of growers and the processing industry. The variety combines high yield potential, disease resistance and strong frying performance, particularly for chips and shoestring potatoes.

Cruces genéticos entre variedades colombianas y peruanas permitieron desarrollar una variedad que mantiene calidad y duplica su periodo de reposo, retrasando la brotación hasta 48 días.

Ecuador se encuentra próximo a presentar dos nuevas variedades de papa, especialmente adaptadas a su contexto productivo, con un gran potencial para la industria de chips.

The 58th Idaho Potato Conference will be held Jan. 21–22 in Pocatello, featuring panels, research updates, a trade show and sessions on soil-borne diseases, agronomy, storage and water issues. Registration is USD 40 before Jan. 14.

Kroeker Farms announces a CEO transition: Wayne Rempel becomes Senior Advisor after decades of leadership, and COO Harwin Bouwman is appointed CEO effective Dec 1, 2025.

Alongside a roasted turkey and stuffing, a traditional Thanksgiving meal in the United States usually includes sweet potatoes glazed with butter and brown sugar and topped with toasted mini marshmallows.

November is Sweet Potato Awareness Month. It coincides with the heart of harvest season and Thanksgiving, a food-centered holiday, Dr. W. Jinnings Burruss Jr., assistant professor of food service at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)

Row 7 Seed Company launches its vibrant purple Starling sweet potato at East Coast Whole Foods. Developed by NC State, Starling blends creamy sweetness with rich flavor and antioxidant-packed color. It joins Row 7’s fall lineup of flavor-driven organic produce.

La Asociación Brasileña de Comercio de Semillas y Plántulas se reunió con representantes de la Embajada y el Consulado de los Países Bajos para fortalecer la cooperación técnica y regulatoria en semillas de papa, presentar avances en el sector y avanzar en la armonización de requisitos fitosanitarios entre ambos países.

People rarely think of Washington when talking about potatoes. Yet much of what happens in the fields— from fertilizer prices to seed genetics— is shaped, directly or indirectly, by decisions made in the U.S. capital.

Sweet potatoes have a long and meaningful history in the United States. Originating in Central and South America, the crop reached North America centuries ago and quickly became valued for its resilience, nutritional density, and natural sweetness.

EarthFresh launches Canada’s first-ever Butter Potatoes—Butter Golds, Reds, and Russets—offering naturally creamy, buttery flavor with no added butter needed. Available nationwide in sustainable packs, they redefine taste, texture, and versatility.

A new potato variety, CIP-Asiryq, developed by the International Potato Center and Indigenous farmers in Peru, resists late blight, cuts fungicide use, cooks faster, and boosts farmer income, offering a climate-resilient solution worldwide.

Plant Grow Harvest has announced the expansion of its potato portfolio and year-round fresh supply through the launch of two dynamic consumer brands and advancements in its proprietary seed breeding program.

Aroostook County has long been referred to as Maine’s Potato Empire. Because of the relatively short season in the County and its rich, fertile soil, potatoes became the dominant crop as non-indigenous settlement increased in the 19th century.

In recent years, the global potato industry has entered a phase of rapid consolidation. Mergers, acquisitions, and geographic expansions are redefining who produces, who decides, and who supplies.

Scientists have decoded the sweetpotato’s complex hexaploid genome, revealing its mixed ancestry and resilience traits. This breakthrough offers powerful tools for breeders to boost yield, nutrition, and climate resistance, securing food futures.