News on Research from the United States

Entomologist Ada Szczepaniec at Texas A&M AgriLife Research is addressing the concern of growing resistance of potato psyllids to the neonicotinoid classification of insecticides.

The Potatoes USA grower membership elected new leadership during its Annual Meeting held in Colorado Springs, Colo., March 14-17

The Snack Food Association (SFA) is excited to announce a new name and identity as SNAC International to reflect the changing marketplace.

The National Potato Council (NPC) will award one $10,000 academic scholarship to honor a graduate student (Master’s degree or higher) working to improve the future of the US potato industry.

During the 44th Annual Meeting of the National Potato Promotion Board, Board Members voted to change its dba (doing business as—business name) from the United States Potato Board, U.S. Potato Board, or USPB, to Potatoes USA

Ishida’s, Atlas Ultrasonic snack food bagmaker uses significantly less packaging film and improves seal quality. See it for yourself in booth #419 of Heat and Control.

The Two Blades Foundation (2Blades) announced a research partnership between 2Blades, The Sainsbury Laboratory, and J. R. Simplot Company to develop potato varieties with increased resistance to oomycete and bacterial diseases.

At SNAXPO, processing and packaging solutions provider, tna will demonstrate its complete solutions for the snack industry, using the all-new tna innovation station - a fully interactive experience.

From February 17-24, Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) participants traveled from potato growing regions across the United States to attend eight days of industry training and professional development.

Researchers discovered that in a wild variety of potato (Solanum Microdontum) Calcium levels are about seven times higher than in a regular potato. They developed a molecular marker to facilitate the transfer of the high Calcium trait to newly bred potato varieties.

U.S. children are not consuming enough vegetables, resulting in an inadequate intake of key nutrients, including potassium and dietary fiber, which are important for growth, development and overall health.

Idaho State University researchers have found high-tech cameras mounted on drones flying 60 meters above potato fields can effectively detect individual diseased and stressed plants.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) unveiled its first Spud Nation™ Food Truck at POTATO EXPO 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is an entirely new, proactive and aggressive demand-building approach for potatoes.

At the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2016 Annual Meeting, held January 14-15 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jim Tiede from James Tiede Farms of American Falls, Idaho, was elected to serve as NPC’s president for 2016 and to lead the council’s Executive Committee.

Neil Gudmestad, a potato pathologist with North Dakota State University, has been awarded the 2015 Potato Man for All Seasons award by produce magazine The Packer.

Stanley Trout joins the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) foodservice marketing team as Promotions Director for the Southeast, based in Nashville, TN.

Twenty potato growers from all over the Wisconsin converged on Madison last week for their annual “grill the professors” ritual.

The US Agency for International Development has awarded Michigan State University (MSU) a $5.8 million cooperative agreement to improve potato production in Bangladesh and Indonesia. Additional partners include the University of Minnesota and J.R. Simplot as well as in-country partners in both Bangladesh and Indonesia.