News on Potato Varieties and Seed

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)

In Ukraine, demand for niche vegetable crops is growing noticeably, most notably for sweet potatoes and asparagus. These observations were shared in a market review of the magazine 'Gardening in Ukrainian'.

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.

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.

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.

Kazakhstan may reintroduce potato export limits as shipments near the 500–600K-tonne threshold set to protect domestic supply. Authorities say high regional demand drove price spikes earlier, but current stocks and prices have now stabilised.

Egyptian sweet potatoes are gaining ground in Europe as demand rises. Short transit times, lower costs, and better storage boost supply. Dutch production struggles with low yields, while growing consumer interest and ready-to-eat trends drive market growth.

For India’s French-fry industry, the journey to global excellence begins not in the plant but in the field. Every step - from aerating seed stores to loading trucks - defines the quality that reaches international markets.

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.

Banas Dairy and BBSSL signed an MoU to build a seed-to-market potato value chain, producing certified seed potatoes and promoting cooperative growth to boost farmer productivity, innovation, and income under the 'Sahakar se Samriddhi' vision.

Nepal’s First Choice Foods has begun exporting its “Himalayan Crisp” and “Hamro Fries” French fries to the United States marking a stunning milestone for the country’s food industry.

SolEdits and Lyckeby have developed CRISPR-edited potatoes with storage-stable starch, removing the need for chemical modification. Once allowed in the EU, this innovation can save 5,000 tonnes of chemicals yearly in Sweden and up to 75,000 across the EU.

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.

Bangladesh faces a potato surplus as industrial use remains limited. Only 3–4% of production is processed, leaving farmers with losses of BDT 10–15/kg. Experts urge investment in processing, storage, and diversification to boost farmer income.

India has rapidly evolved from a minor importer to a leading global exporter of frozen french fries, driven by innovation in potato processing, contract farming, and technology centered in Gujarat, transforming its agricultural landscape into a world-class food industry.

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.

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.