News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from the United States

February 10, 2015

Pineland Farms Naturally Potatoes rapid sales growth boon for Maine Potato growers

Rodney McCrum, president and chief operating officer of Pineland Farms Naturally Potatoes, says he is dedicated to growing the company he started with a dozen other potato farmers in 1995.

Some of Ore-Ida's retail potato products

February 09, 2015

Heinz shakes up potato procurement for its Oregon potato processing factory

Heinz Frozen Foods, manufacturer of the Ore-Ida retail brand is changing the procurement process for the potatoes for its Ontario, OR potato processing plant. Heinz will now contract with the Oregon Potato Company, Pasco, Washington.

January 25, 2015

Confirmed: French Fried Potatoes NOT a Source of Trans Fat

New Research Confirms French Fried Potatoes Are Not a Source of Trans Fat

December 23, 2014

West Coast Labor Dispute is Hurting Idaho Potato Industry

Port disruptions on the West Coast due to labor contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) are hurting Idaho agriculture and Idaho’s exporters.

Bulk potato storage United States (Courtesy IVI)

December 15, 2014

Major US Potato States held 263 million cwt in stock per December 1, 2014

The 13 major US potato States held 263 million cwt of potatoes in storage December 1, 2014, down 3 percent from 2 years
ago.

December 14, 2014

United States Potato Board receives 5 million for the promotion of US Potatoes around the world

The United States Potato Board (USPB) received an allocation of $4,998,892 in program year 2015 Market Access Program (MAP) funds from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) at USDA. These funds will be used by the USPB to promote frozen, dehydrated, chip-stock, table-stock and seed potatoes in over 25 countries around the world.

December 02, 2014

Alexia Foods Introduces Rib Cut BBQ Sweet Potato French Fries

Alexia Foods, a line of premium, all-natural frozen potatoes, breads and side dishes, is introducing the latest stars of the table – new Alexia Premium Seasoned Vegetables and Rib Cut BBQ Sweet Potato Fries.

Key Technology Introduces CIT Hyperspectral Imaging Module for ADR 5 to remove “Sugar Ends”

November 18, 2014

Key Technology Introduces CIT® Hyperspectral Module for ADR5 to Detect & Remove Sugar Ends from Potato Strips

Key Technology introduces hyperspectral imaging on its popular ADR® 5 automatic defect removal system for potato strips to detect and remove sugar ends.

November 18, 2014

Will Simplot's Innate GMO Potato Take Off? McDonald's Has Spoken

If the Innate GMO potato is going to take off, depends on Simplot winning over three major factions, Farmers, big buyers such as McDonald's and the Consumer

November 09, 2014

USDA approves Simplot's Innate GM potatoes

A potato genetically engineered to reduce the amounts of a potentially harmful ingredient in French fries and potato chips has been approved for commercial planting, the Department of Agriculture announced on Friday.

October 26, 2014

Simplot postpones closure Nampa potato processing plant again

The Simplot potato processing plant in Nampa will again stay open longer than anticipated.

Actual consumption by Americans as a percentage of goal (2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans)

October 11, 2014

APRE Research Highlights Potato as Important Source of Dietary Fiber

By contributing approximately 7% of dietary fiber to the U.S. food supply, new research from APRE found that white potatoes are an importance source of this nutrient for Americans.

September 11, 2014

US Potato Exports Hit New Records In Both Value & Volume (expanded)

The value of all U.S. potato exports reached $1,755,544,515 for the recently completed July 2013 – June 2014 marketing year. This is an expanded version of an earlier publication.

The J.R. Simplot Co. is decommissioning its potato-processing plant in Aberdeen in Bingham County.

September 11, 2014

Simplot decommissions Aberdeen plant

The J.R. Simplot Co. is decommissioning its potato-processing plant in Aberdeen in Bingham County. Simplot says all processing work there ended over the Labor Day weekend.

Strike at Simplot Grand Forks ended as a deal is reached

August 25, 2014

Strike at Simplot Grand Forks over as deal is reached

Workers at the J.R. Simplot Co. potato processing plant in Grand Forks have reached a contract agreement with the company after being on strike for almost three weeks.

August 19, 2014

Burger King Stores Discontinue Satisfries as Sales Fizzle

After less than a year of being on the menu, Burger King is getting rid of its lower-calorie french fries, called Satisfries, at most of its restaurants.

August 11, 2014

Simplot Aberdeen closure delayed once again

The J.R. Simplot plant in Aberdeen is still up and running, after it was scheduled to officially close its doors on July 31, but a delay in the start-up of the production in the new Caldwell plant has it rescheduled to close Sept. 2.

Gary Rodkin at launch "Conagra Foods you love" in 2010 (Courtesy: Bailey Lauerman)

August 11, 2014

Gary Rodkin, ConAgra Foods CEO, Announces Intent to Retire

ConAgra Foods, Inc., announced today that Gary M. Rodkin, chief executive officer, has informed the ConAgra Foods Board of Directors of his intention to retire at the end of the company’s fiscal year, May 2015