News on Potato Varieties and Seed from the Americas

The USDA's National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) recently awarded four Potato Research grants  totaling USD 2.6 million  as part of their Special Research Grants program.

CBC reports that the US border has again closed to Prince Edward Island seed potatoes after potato wart was found in two P.E.I. fields.

The Little Potato Company is introducing two flavor extensions to its best-selling Microwave Ready line - Smoked Salt and Roasted Garlic, Rosemary, and Thyme - and a new proprietary potato variety, Purely Purple.

Pennsylvania has more potato chip manufacturers than any other state in the United States. Consequently, Penn State's potato research program is focused on potatoes for the production of potato chips.

The unpredictable impacts of natural disasters, environmental threats and a changing climate threaten global food security. The CIP genebank drives efforts to conserve the world’s genetic diversity of potato and sweet potato for future use.

The United Potato Growers of Canada report on the 2021 Harvest as it is in its final stages. Most provinces (with the exception of British Columbia) have enjoyed excellent harvest conditions without cool temperatures or wet conditions.

Don Flannery, president of the Maine Potato Board, is not calling it a record year — yet. But with over 80 percent of this season’s potatoes out of the ground, the longtime industry expert said yields are shaping up to be above average.

El Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA) confirmó la presencia de fitoplasmas asociados a la enfermedad de Punta Morada de la Papa (PMP) en cultivos de papa en Nariño.

Climate change is making it harder for farmers to grow enough food to feed their families. A new potato variety called CIP-Matilde, developed by the International Potato Center (CIP) with support from the Crop Trust.

Inc. magazine revealed that Tasteful Selections® ranked No. 3644 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

Tubers have battled various scourges for about 10,000 years, as well as an unpredictable climate that can cause unseasonable frost damage to crops every year.

In New Brunswick’s potato belt, the spud is king, yielding two billion pounds of product for a $1.5 billion industry during the annual fall harvest. This year’s potato crop is bigger and better than 2020, thanks to warm weather and good rain over the summer growing season.

In a new study, published in Crop Science, researchers describe genetic tools to develop potato varieties with improved natural resistance to the Colorado potato beetle

As MountainKing readies for its fall harvest, early tests from its fields in Colorado’s San Luis Valley offer encouraging signs for several of the brand’s gourmet varieties including its yellow-flesh varietals.

Progressive Produce grows, packs and ships a wide variety of year-round produce, farming thousands of acres throughout North and South America.

Weather patterns have continued to influence the outlook for the Canadian potato crop since UPGC’s last update. Eastern Canada (particularly PEI) has received record amounts of rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

The hot, dry and smoky growing season has left some Idaho potato farmers bracing for a poor crop. For Randy Hardy of Oakley, harvest will likely be the worst of his career.

The toll that hot dry weather took on the Red River Valley 2021 potato crop won’t be visible until harvest begins in a few weeks, but it’s already clear it has affected yields and quality.