News on The Potato Supply Chain from Australia

Peter VanderZaag, President and Chairman of World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) and the WPC Industry Awards Committee, are now requesting nominations for the 2024 World Potato Congress Industry Awards.

Scientists have developed a more planet-friendly way to produce fertilizer, which is an essential component of global food systems.

Potatoes Australia Ltd. is pleased to officially declare Ms. Robbie Davis as the Ambassador for the highly anticipated World Potato Congress 2024

Agronico, Tasmania’s largest seed potato producer, has entered into an agreement for Simplot to acquire the business and property assets of Agronico.

HarvestEye - a sensor that measures tuber quality during harvest - is now available to potato growers in Australia. Elders was appointed as the exclusive reseller of the system in the country.

If you’ve been into a fish and chip shop in Australia in the last 12 months, you may well have seen a notice tacked to the wall about the impact of the potato shortage. Supermarkets, too, slapped temporary limits on frozen chip purchases.

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, a Canadian pension fund, acquires the majority stake in Mitolo Family Farms, the largest potato grower and packer in Australia.

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has confirmed a major potato shortage has caused the price of potato-based snacks to soar – resulting in 'insane prices' for a single bag of chips.

Australian supermarket Coles introduces purchase limit on frozen potato chips (French Fries) due to shortage

Australian potato supplier, the Pye Group will, officially opened the largest potato packing facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere on Tuesday.

AUSVEG has reviewed Global Trade Atlas import data to better understand: the changes in the levels of potato imports pre- and post-COVID, as well as
the changes in import levels over the last 12-months as growers have faced significant increases in costs of production.

Potato farmers in the Ballarat region are demanding a pay rise for their produce, claiming McCain Foods does not pay a fair price for the popular mealtime vegetable. Last season McCain Foods paid growers an average of AUD 0.33 (about USD 0.23)

Potato processor Simplot Australia has refused to budge on its second price offer to Tasmanian farmers for their potato crop this season. Farmers met on Wednesday night to discuss the impasse with the company.

Farmers have rejected a second price offer made by food manufacturer Simplot for their potato crop this season.

Zerella Fresh was founded in 1936 (Virginia, South of Australia) and is since 2009 a part of the Pye Group family. Zerella is committed to being Australia’s leading supplier and marketer of fresh produce.

West-Australian Potato farmers are warning that growers will walk away from the industry as cost pressures make the staple crop unviable in Australia.

Developed by Freshlogic, the annual Horticulture Statistics Handbook includes the latest available data on 75 different categories across fruit, vegetable, nut, nursery, and cut flowers in Australia.

Nicole Stevens traveled to Australia from the United Kingdom after completing her science and tourism management studies. Her career pathway has now diverted to horticulture.