News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from the United States

September 02, 2009

Cavendish Farms Jamestown factory closed indefinitely

The Cavendish Farms Jamestown factory is closed indefinitely after a fire burned in its attic Monday, officials said.Greg Allen, the plant’s administrative manager, said only part of the plant was damaged and he wants to get it running again soon.Allen...

September 01, 2009

King Krinkz, King Kolossalz, King Wedgez: the new Microwaveable French Fries from Conagra Foods Lamb Weston

Burger King Corp. has entered into a licensing arrangement with ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston whereby Lamb Weston will introduce a retail line of crispy and flavorful microwaveable Burger King branded french fries that will hit shelves of select retailers.

August 31, 2009

Today's kids' menus are so.... last year.

Mintel Menu Insights, which tracks restaurant menu trends, says the average kids’ menu doesn’t offer enough variety or healthy food, even as parents, kids and chefs alike call out for better options.Analyzing kids’ menus from 2005 to the present, Minte...

August 31, 2009

Fire damages Cavendish Farms Jamestown French Fry plant

Parts of the Cavendish Farms French Fry plant in Jamestown were damaged by a fire Monday afternoon, but no one was injured.The source of the blaze is unknown, said Jamestown Fire Chief Jim Reuther. The fire likely started in the attic, he said.Black sm...

August 28, 2009

Louisiana Budget Committee awards $37 million for Conagra Foods Lamb Weston sweet potato plant

A Louisiana state budget panel this morning awarded more than $37 million to agriculture giant ConAgra to build a sweet potato processing and freezing plant near Delhi in Northeast Louisiana.The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved the gr...

August 27, 2009

Another Sweet Potato Processing Plant in Louisiana?

The head of Louisiana food processor Bruce Foods Corp. said Wednesday that he will meet next week with state economic development officials in an attempt to get his company's stalled sweet potato processing project back on track.Bruce Foods Chief Execu...

August 19, 2009

Key Technology Expands Online Training Program to Include Tegra® Sorters

Key Technology introduces its new Online Training Program for Tegra® with G6 sorters. This interactive, multimedia curriculum expands the knowledgeability of employees to better operate, maintain, and clean Tegra sorting systems. By providing effectiv...

August 18, 2009

Lamb Weston Sweet Potato plant will impact the region

The announcement of plans for a sweet potato processing in nearby Richland Parish earlier this month, set the wheels of opportunity turning for Franklin Parish interest.Franklin Parish is home to the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station, which h...

August 05, 2009

Lamb Weston plans Sweet Potato Processing Plant in Louisiana

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston announced today plans to build a new, state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly processing plant near Delhi, Louisiana, designed primarily to process high-quality sweet potatoes from the region into fries and related product...

August 05, 2009

New Smart Choices Symbol on nearly 200 ConAgra Foods Products

As part of its ongoing commitment to help Americans lead healthier lives, ConAgra Foods will feature the Smart Choice Program™ logo on many of its products. The Smart Choices Program symbol, which is displayed on the front of qualifying food packages, ...

July 28, 2009

Delaware French fry vending machine startup gets state funding

One of the country's leading manufacturers of frozen potatoes worked more than 20 years trying to perfect a french fry vending machine, with little success. In the 1990s, another company promised just such a machine but foundered amid allegations that...

July 23, 2009

More French Fries in Cold Store in the US

According to the USDA NASS Cold Storage Report published July 22, the amount of French Fries in cold store in the United States on June 30, 2009 was 1,011,773,000 pounds, up 7% from last month and up 5% from last year. The amount of "other potat...

Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative (SIPCO)

July 19, 2009

SIPCO Potato Growers seek investigation of Conagra Lamb Weston

Southern Idaho potato growers filed a request with the United States Department of Justice on Friday seeking an investigation into allegations that ConAgra violated anti-trust laws.The Idaho Office of the Attorney General confirmed that it relieved, si...

July 07, 2009

Richland, Conagra strike deal for Lamb Weston headquarters.

Richland and ConAgra Foods have signed a $1.4 million agreement for the city to sell land at Columbia Point to the company to build an administrative campus. ConAgra is buying 8.61 acres to the north and east of Bradley Boulevard near the intersectio...

June 28, 2009

Key Technology Introduces Manta® for Frozen Potato Products

Key Technology introduces Manta® for frozen potato products. Featuring Vis/IR (visible infrared) cameras and Raptor laser technology along with new, proprietary high intensity LED lighting, high flow ejector valves, and three-way ejection capability, t...

June 12, 2009

US Potato Stocks and Processing as of June 1

The 13 major potato States held 44.8 million cwt of potatoes in storage June 1, 2009, down 11 percent from a year ago but 1 percent above June 1, 2007. Potatoes in storage accounted for 12 percent of the 2008 fall storage States' production, slightly b...

June 10, 2009

Cavendish Farms withdraws from negotiations with Minn-Dak potato growers

After long negotiations to reach a price agreement for potato growers represented by the Minn-Dak Bargaining Co-op, the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association in East Grand Forks announced Wednesday that Cavendish Farms of Jamestown, N.D., did not ...

June 09, 2009

New Potato Specialties and Appetizer Plant to be built in Plover

A food processing plant slated to open this fall in the village of Plover (Wisconsin) is about to receive another financial shot in the arm. The Portage County Economic Development and Finance committees Monday approved a $400,000 federal economic de...