News on Potato Varieties and Seed from Washington

June 22, 2023

Potato growers can’t keep up with 'red hot' global demand

Washington potato farmers can’t keep pace with worldwide cravings for french fries, hash browns, tots, potato chips and other processed potato products.

June 16, 2022

June 23: WSU Potato Field Day offers a look at seed and pest studies, virus-sniffing dog

At their 400-acre Othello research farm, Washington State University scientists study seed quality, new varieties, pests, and growing practices to help Northwest potatoes thrive

June 21, 2019

Western Innovator: Potato researcher thrives on questions

Mark Pavek, professor and potato specialist at Washington State University, at one of the research potato fields in Othello.

McDonald's accepts additional potato varieties for its fries

November 29, 2016

McDonald's accepts two new potato varieties for its fries: Blazer Russet and Clearwater Russet

In September, McDonald's approved two relatively new potato varieties for the production of their french Fries. They only allow seven varieties now, four of which were developed by the Tri-State Program

December 07, 2014

New Specialty potatoes: Delicious, Nutritious and Colorful

Agricultural Research Service scientists have bred and released colorful new potato varieties. Some have relatively high levels of beneficial red-to-purple pigments called “anthocyanins,” and others have high levels of yellow-pigmented carotenoids

August 03, 2014

Simplot outlines Innate marketing strategy

The J.R. Simplot Co. expects USDA approval for its genetically modified Innate potatoes within the next two months. Simplot Plant Sciences Director of Commercialization Kerwin Bradley outlined the strategy for marketing the potatoes at the Potato Association of America meeting in Spokane.

January 03, 2011

Colored Potatoes Shown To Decrease Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Damage

In the first known study to address the effects of potato consumption on antioxidant status, oxidative stress and inflammation in humans, a team of research scientists worked with a group of Washington adult males to test the hypothesis that antioxidants from colored potatoes would decrease susceptibility to chronic diseases.