News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

February 01, 2018

Genome of the Colorado Potato Beetle studied as a model species for agricultural pest

The Colorado potato beetle is notorious for its role in starting the pesticide industry - and for its ability to resist the insecticides developed to stop it. Now scientists have sequenced the beetle’s genome, probing its genes for clues to its surprising adaptability.

PEI Potato Solutions receives government support as the company invests in the latest sorting equipment

January 21, 2018

PEI Potato Solutions receives government support as the company invests in the latest sorting technology

The Government of Canada supports the investment in a Sherlock Separator potato sorter by RWL Holdings LTD (PEI Potato Solutions), a potato washing and sorting facility to optimize potatoes for processing prior to delivery to Cavendish Farms.

January 13, 2018

When pests graze certain potatoes, yields double

When some Colombian potato varieties are lightly grazed by a pest, the plants respond by growing larger tubers, at times doubling their yields. Researchers see an opportunity and want to know more...

January 13, 2018

Lunchtime is over for the Colorado potato beetle

Chemicals in the leaves of potato plants, produced naturally by the plant, may hold the key to a new way to control Colorado potato beetles - a major pest for potato growers.

January 10, 2018

North America's biggest Potato Industry event is happening this week in Orlando

This week more than 2,000 growers, suppliers, and experts will converge at the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry held in North America, Potato Expo 2018.

January 10, 2018

Tasteful Selections highlights bite-sized potatoes in yearlong Fresh Campaign

Tasteful Selections™, a specialty potato brand from RPE Inc., proudly announces the launch of its yearlong Always Fresh campaign, with insights and inspiration revolving around healthy, nutritious recipes and kitchen tips for more confident meal preparation.

January 05, 2018

Romain Cools new President and CEO of World Potato Congress (WPC) Inc

David Thompson steps down as President and CEO of the World Potato Congress Inc. and announces Romain Cools as new President and CEO.

January 01, 2018

McCain Foods executive makes predictions for future of potato industry

McCain Foods Global Vice President for Agronomy Ghislain Pelletier shared his vision for the future of the potato industry with Island growers during the recent annual meeting of the PEI Potato Board.

December 21, 2017

Experimental potato delivers bounty of vitamin A and E

An experimental 'golden' potato has the potential to provide as much as 42 percent of a child’s recommended daily intake of vitamin A and 34 percent of a child’s recommended intake of vitamin E, according to a study co-led at The Ohio State University.

December 11, 2017

Certis USA Licenses New Virus Technology for Control of Fall Armyworm

Certis USA has entered into an agreement with Corpoica, the Colombian Corporation for Agriculture Research, to license Corpoica’s Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) strain NPV003 and formulation technology for a biopesticide against the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).

December 10, 2017

Darryl Wallace new Chairman of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board has a new Chairman as a result of its December 4th Board of Directors meeting.

December 04, 2017

Maine Potato Board happy about spud quality, new variety

After one of the most unique potato harvests in recent memory, Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, said Wednesday that he felt good about all the industry accomplished this year and was optimistic about year ahead.

November 30, 2017

Potatoes USA Organises First Ever School Foodservice Potato Recipe Testing Roadshow

Earlier this month representatives from Potatoes USA met with the School District of LaCrosse, Wisconsin to test school foodservice recipes with the K-12 experts themselves.

UMaine receive grant for potato breeding and to improve quality and pest resistance

November 27, 2017

UMaine receives grant for potato breeding with focus on quality improvement and pest resistance

The USDA-NIFA has awarded a grant totaling $388,000 to the University of Maine to study potato breeding and improve quality and pest resistance in the eastern United States.

Research into sustainable management practices to increase fertilizer efficiency receives support from the Canadian Government

November 21, 2017

Research: How can we increase fertilizer efficiency?

The government of Canada last week announced a $1.8 million investment in a research project at the University of British Columbia that includes the development of beneficial management practices for increasing the efficiency of fertilizer use in potatoes.

United States Fall Potato Production down 2 percent

November 20, 2017

USDA: United States Fall Potato Production 2017 down 2 percent

The first official USDA data for harvest 2017 show the United States production of fall potatoes is down 2 percent from last year, forecast at 399 million cwt.