News on Potatoes in Retail from the Americas

It was just 18 months ago that Potandon Produce LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, introduced an innovative value-added potato product in the Green Giant Fresh brand called One Step … Done!

MountainKing Potatoes has added Cindy Adkins, a former owner and operator of the nation's largest certified organic packer of fingerling potatoes, to its team of sales representatives, the company says in a press release recently issued.

Farmers all across Idaho will be in their fields from now through most of October collecting the state's signature crop.

As part of their 10-year celebration and in response to their consumers, Tasteful Selections®, a pioneer and leader in the bite-size potato category, has added a new feature to its recently revamped website.

This fall RPE launches a new red-skin potato variety, RPE Golden Red. They will be available in a three-pound, poly light-blocker, bilingual bag.

EarthFresh’s Paper Revolution offers retailers a full potato product line in 100% compostable paper packaging.

Retail potato sales in the United States are soaring, increasing 31% in dollar sales and 32% in volume sales between March 16, 2020 and June 14, 2020, according to IRI.

New potatoes are a veggie lover's early-summer dream — the tender little spuds, some around the size of golf balls, others the size of a crabapple, melt in your mouth when steamed, buttered and lightly seasoned. Heaven. And they're now popping up at roadside stands across P.E.I.

EarthFresh launches new Biobased Mesh Packaging for Baby Potatoes and Baby Sweet Potatoes.

Retail potato sales soar, increasing 10.4% in dollar sales and 9.3% in volume sales between July 1, 2019, and May 19, 2020, according to IRI. All potato categories across the retail store, except deli-prepared sides, increased in dollar and volume sales, according to a report by Potatoes USA.

Black Gold Farms, Grand Forks, N.D., will start the harvest of red potatoes in Texas soon. The company will be harvesting the potatoes for about a month, starting in early May in Pearsall, Texas, according to a news release.

Side Delights® recently announced its third packaging design award in five years. Graphic Design USA announced its 57th American Packaging Design Awards online today, including The Side DelightsÒ Gourmet Petite fresh potato package.

Cavendish farms haven’t laid off any staff yet because of the coronavirus (COVID-19), but a spokeswoman for the company says short-term layoffs are expected.

While food manufacturers supplying to foodservice are suffering from lost revenue and layoffs, companies primarily serving retail customers are faced with exactly the opposite. One example is potato processor Idahoan Foods.

Many consumers are stocking up on potatoes during these uncertain times, and it's important to make the most of these purchases. Heidi Alsum Randall, a potato farmer and mother from Wisconsin, provided the following thoughts:

Key players in the potato industry in the United States and Canada announced at Potato Expo 2020 the creation of a new organization dedicated to sustainability in the potato sector: the Potato Sustainability Alliance.

IRI data for the second quarter of the marketing year (October through December 2019) showed success with dollars and a decline in volume for total potato sales at retail in the United States.

February is Potato Lover’s Month, and Morning Kiss Organic is celebrating by giving this versatile food some special recognition! Potatoes are historically among the most popular items in the produce aisle and with a high consumption rate.