News on Potatoes for processing from Idaho

Potatoes, fresh from the field, bump onto a belt before being transferred to a storage shed outside of Boardman, Oregon.

October 31, 2023

Too much potatoes for French Fries in Pacific Northwest

About 5,000 loaded-down semi-trucks of really nice Northwest french-fry-making potatoes are set to plop into cattle troughs or be destroyed. Dale Lathim is the President of the Potato Marketing Association of North America

Idaho potato packing operation receives $19.6M in federal funding to increase production

June 25, 2023

Idaho potato packer Mart Group will use USD 19.6M in federal funding to construct a frozen potato processing facility

The Mart Group, an Idaho potato packing operation has been awarded a USD 19.6 million USDA funding to construct a frozen potato processing facility. The investment is part of a USD 320 million effort to create better markets for agricultural producers and food businesses.

April 28, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic could force down Idaho potato acres

Total acres of Idaho’s iconic potato crop could decrease significantly this year as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Although there was a rush on potatoes at grocery stores early on.

March 25, 2019

Will added North American potato processing capacity lead to increased acreage?

North American potato processors either have or will be bringing at least 1.3 billion pounds of new processing capacity online between October 2018 and December 2019. In Potato Country, Bruce Huffaker of NAPMN discusses the impact.

September 18, 2018

Potatoes Annual Summary: 2017 US Potato Production Up Slightly

Earlier this month, USDA-NASS published its annual report 'Potatoes 2017 Summary; September 2018'. The 2017 data indicate a slight increase of the total potato production in the United States compared to the previous year.

August 27, 2017

Idaho Potato Growers report lower yield in early Norkotah Harvest

Idaho Potato industry officials report yields are down significantly as Western Idaho growers have started with their early harvest of Russet Norkotahs for the fresh market.

May 04, 2017

McCain Foods USA plans USD 200 million expansion of Burley Idaho French Fry plant

McCain Foods USA has announced it will invest more than USD 200 million into expanding its Burley, Idaho potato processing plant, creating 180 jobs and increasing potato production throughout the state.

Top Ten potato varieties grown in the United States (Fall Crop)

November 21, 2016

The top six potato varieties grown in the United States (Fall Crop)

Do you know the Top 6 potato varieties grown in the United States? We created an overview based on the USDA data for the 2016 fall potato crop.

April 12, 2015

Idaho potato growers accept slight price cut in processing contracts

Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative growers have agreed to a contract that slightly reduces potato prices but requires processors to accept at least 90 percent of their 2014 acreages with individual farms.

Russet Burbank (Courtesy Idaho Potato Commission)

February 08, 2015

Large and growing price gap between small and large Russets in Idaho

Idaho is currently confronted with the unusual situation that large Russet potatoes are far more expensive than small Russets and the price gap is only increasing.

Current temperatures in the Pacific North West (Courtesy KREM.com)

July 16, 2014

Idaho potato growers concerned about crop heat stress

Extreme heat throughout Idaho to start July has raised concerns from some potato and onion growers.

Mike Thornton, Ph.D. Professor Parma Research and Extension Center University of Idaho

June 13, 2014

Focus on Potato: Factors that cause Sugar Ends in Potatoes

Whether you call them glassy ends, translucent ends, dark ends, jelly ends, or something even less flattering, sugar ends are a significant issue.

March 06, 2014

Idaho potato growers approved contract with McCain Foods

Idaho potato farmers who sell to McCain Foods have agreed to a contract that maintains roughly the same pricing as last season, said Dan Hargraves, who negotiated on their behalf as executive director of Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative.

March 05, 2013

Idaho Potato growers approve contracts with Simplot, McCain

Idaho potato growers at a Monday meeting in Burley approved processing contracts with J.R. Simplot and McCain Foods that both include payment increases averaging 1.6 percent.