News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from the United States

August 25, 2011

Idaho Potato shortage forces early harvests

This season’s harvest is shaping to be a bit backwards for Aberdeen, Idaho, grower Ritchey Toevs. Normally by Aug. 23, Toevs would be winding up his grain harvest, leaving his potatoes in the ground for another month. Due to cool, damp weather this su...

August 15, 2011

US Potato Sales & Utilization estimates by the United States Potato Board

The USPB is pleased to deliver the industry’s sales and utilization estimates for calendar year 2010. The full report is attached following this story.

August 09, 2011

US Potato Board Seminars Inspire New US Mashed Potatoes Uses

What can you do with mashed potatoes? Just about anything! That is the message Asia’s food service operators took home from seminars recently conducted by the United States Potato Board (USPB) international marketing program. The mashed potato seminar...

McDonalds Happy Meal with Fruit AND fries

July 27, 2011

New Happy Meal has Fruit AND Fries

In the United States, McDonald’s will begin rolling out a new Happy Meal in September 2011, with the goal of having them available in all 14,000 restaurants during Q1 2012.

July 21, 2011

Alexia offers Sweet potato lovers a new way to enjoy this classic favorite: Sweet Potato Puffs

This year, the sweet potato is migrating away from its place at the Thanksgiving table and making its way to everyday dinner tables thanks to companies like Alexia Foods. Known for its line of all-natural, gourmet-inspired frozen side dishes, breads ...

July 13, 2011

Simplot announces 'Innate' Technology to improve potatoes

The J. R. Simplot Company's Plant Sciences business announces Innate™ Technology, the all-native biotechnology platform for improving crops, leading to new, better and healthier foods.

July 06, 2011

U.S., Mexico sign agreement to end trucking dispute

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes Dionisio Arturo Pèrez-Jàcome Friscione joined July 6 in Mexico City to sign agreements resolving the dispute over long-haul, cross-border trucking services between ...

June 27, 2011

USPB responds to Harvard Study on weight gain in NEJM

The United States Potato Board believes a study released in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine perpetuates unfortunate myths and misconceptions about the potato.

June 27, 2011

Harvard Study suggests potatoes and potato products have a significant role in long term weight gain

In a series of three separate studies looking at how changes in multiple dietary and other lifestyle factors relate to long-term weight gain, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found that modest changes in specific foods and beverages, physical activity, TV-watching, and sleep duration were strongly linked with long-term weight gain.

June 26, 2011

International Potato Processing & Storage Convention 2011 sees high quality speakers

Infra-red heating and blanching, meeting today's food safety regulatory demands, innovative sorting solutions, enzymes against acrylamide and working out the real cost of ownership kept delegates busy at the final day of the 2011 International Potato Processing and Storage Convention in Denver, Colorado.

June 13, 2011

US Potato Stocks down 36% from 2010 (June 1)

In the United States, the 13 major potato States held 35.5 million cwt of potatoes in storage June 1, 2011, down 36 percent from a year ago.

June 08, 2011

Aginfo interview with Frank van Schaayk: Building a Strong Front

French fries and potatoes are not evil but they have been demonized. What will it take to get the buying consumer to realize that a potato is a very simple, healthy and wholesome food and not the primary culprit in rampant obesity?

May 26, 2011

Heinz to close 5 factories, cut up to 1000 jobs;raised profit forecast

H.J. Heinz Co., the world’s biggest ketchup maker, raised its dividend and profit forecast as it plans to slash as many as 1,000 jobs worldwide.

May 17, 2011

US Potato Stocks on May 1 at lowest level in 10 year

The 13 major potato States held 65.7 million cwt of potatoes in storage May 1, 2011, down 27 percent from a year ago.

May 10, 2011

National Restaurant Association Announces First Annual Food and Beverage Product Innovations Award Recipients

The National Restaurant Association today announced the recipients of its first annual Food &Beverage Product Innovations Awards, which recognize progressive food and beverage products that will make a significant impact in the restaurant industry...

North American Potato Market News (NAPMN)

April 27, 2011

NPPGA: demand for processing potatoes in North Dakota will be high this summer

The Columbia Basin, Idaho, and Wisconsin are all facing potential shortages, while North Dakota is sitting on more spuds than one year ago. The North American Potato Market News is reporting the Columbia Basin will run out by July 3rd if usage continu...

April 20, 2011

French fries no longer such a hot potato

Fries have been getting downsized. The introduction of dollar menus, effects of the recession and end of supersizing have taken a toll on french fry consumption at restaurants.

April 20, 2011

Las papas a la francesa ya no son el plato fuerte de los restaurantes de comida rápida

La introducción de los menús de dólar, los efectos de la recesión y el final de las porciones gigantes han hecho mella en el consumo de papa a la francesa en los restaurantes. En los Estados Unidos, las ventas de papa congelada procesada a los restaur...