Potato News from Canada

The Top 200 Canadian restaurant chains managed to grow sales by 1.0 percent and increase overall units by a slightly higher 1.3 percent last year, even as the economy just started easing out of the recession. With total sales of C$23.9 billion, the Top...

Canadian Popcorn lovers rejoice! Orville Redenbacher's is adding a new look and flavour to its line of popcorn, shaking up snack time like never before with the launch of Spicy Nacho.Two thirds of Canadians feel that a variety of flavours is a key cons...

Bruce Huffaker, editor of North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) forecasts the total area planted to potatoes in Canada to be 356,000 acres - 15,100 fewer acres than planted in 2009, a 4.1% reduction.

A recent survey conducted commission by the Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems shows that Canadians of all provinces are highly supportive of intervention by governments in a fight against the obesity epidemic. Significantly, 86% of responden...

A fungus that could seriously damage Manitoba's multimillion-dollar commercial potato industry has been spotted at commercial nurseries, Manitoba Agriculture says. The provincial agency has issued a warning to residential gardeners after "late b...

After four quarters of weakness, Canadian restaurant traffic grew modestly in the first quarter of 2010, up 2.3 per cent versus the same period one year ago, according to The NPD Group, a leading market research company. At the same time, consumer spen...

Irving-owned Cavendish Farms is making arguments before a tribunal in the hopes of overturning an order that would force it to sign contracts with farmers before planting season. In 2008 and 2009, farmers were frustrated by delays from the company th...

After successfully founding Cultures Fresh Food Restaurants and New York Fries, Toronto entrepreneur Jay Gould ventured into premium burgers in 2005 with the opening South Street Burger Co. in Toronto. He opened his 12th store this year -- all them in ...

The Covered Bridge Potato Chip Co. Inc. won the NB Tourism Product Development Award. This was one of the four 2010 Tourism Excellence and Innovation Awards awards presented on Thursday, May 27, by the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick (TI...

Global Potato Tours is organizing its first international tour, scheduled to take place June 27 - July 4, 2010 on the largest potato producing province of Canada - Prince Edward Island. Tour members will be introduced in person to many individuals invo...

Canada exported 14.0 million cwt of potatoes and potato products during the January-March quarter. According to the editor of North American Potato Market News (NAPMN), Bruce Huffaker, that fell 1.7 million cwt short of the 2009 pace, a 10.7% decline. ...

Entire fast-food empires have been built around the french fry. But companies still continue to pursue perfection -- as in, a better-for-you fry. The immodestly named Perfect Fry company, out of Calgary, claims to have nailed it. At the National Res...

Growers of processing potatoes in Manitoba have approved a deal with McCain Foods which will see production drop by 12 percent, with prices down around 15 percent. Gary Sloik, general manager of the Keystone Potato Producers Association, says growers w...

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board said it is disappointed that Cavendish Farms is appealing a new mediation and arbitration rule put in place this year. Under the Potato Board order, contracts must be worked out between Island potato processing p...

McCain Foods is laying off about 10 per cent of its workforce in Portage la Prairie this fall and Manitoba potato producers are expecting a leaner crop year.About 40 people out of a workforce of about 400 at McCain's in Portage are expected to be laid ...

Potato farmers selling potatoes to McCain Foods have seen their contract improved after going to arbitration.The farmers had complained McCain's offer price was not even close to what Cavendish Farms is giving its farmers. The issue went to arbitration...

In Manitoba, the potato crop is off to a record start - over half the potato acreage has been planted -, but that does not mean potato growers are pleased with how the spring has progressed. Growers of processing potatoes are still without price cont...

McCain Foods is permanently reducing the number of production shifts from 3 to 2 at its Borden-Carleton, P.E.I., plant this fall, leading to the layoff of 35 people.Calla Farn, vice-president of government and public relations and corporate affairs for...