News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from the United States

Tracking data of the sales of frozen potato products to foodservice by the major US potato processors indicates a low single digit drop in pounds sold in the last quarter of 2008 and a high single digit dollar value increase. For entire 2008, the volume sold is flat. Export of frozen potato products is up, both in volume and dollar value, but export is relatively small (about 15%) compared to total sales. There is no clear sign in these tracking data that foodservice is moving away from higher priced specialties.

Fourth quarter 2008 consumer food spending met its steepest decline in more than half a century, according to data from Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Spending on food at retail and restaurants fell 3.7% from the previous quarter, w...

Kiremko introduces the “Ultra Fine” knife block, the latest addition to the range of QuadraFlow hydro cutting equipment. The “Ultra Fine” achieves the highest standards in hydro cutting technology, developed in close cooperation with several processors...

Washington State Potato Farmers agreed to modifications in the 2009 potato contracts with potato processing companies Simplot and Lamb Weston.Processing Companies agreed in September to give Northwest potato growers a hefty raise on their 2009 pre-seas...

Good news about fast-food french fries: Tests show they are free of artery-clogging trans fats. The chains stopped using trans fats to make fries over the past few years, but ShopSmart magazine from Consumer Reports, tested some  samples from Burger Ki...

According to market analyst and editor of North American Potato Market News, Bruce Huffaker, alarmists appear to be exaggerating reports about weakness in demand for frozen potato products. While there is no doubt that the economy has hurt demand, one ...

It takes guts to start a business, even in good economic times. So you might think that only the most wildly optimistic entrepreneurs would attempt it now, with the country in the depths of a recession. Maybe so, but it’s hard to keep a good idea down...

The first part of 2008 began as a banner year for spuds."But then all of a sudden in the fourth quarter of 2008, things started to change,"Dale Lathim said, Executive Director of the Potato Growers of Washington.Despite how good the french f...

Refridgerated and Frozen Foods held an extensive interview with Mark Hayden, senior VP of supply chain and distribution sales at Conagra Lamb Weston.An exerpt: “When you get into these types of economic conditions, operators need someone to bring them...

The outlook for the 2008 U.S. potato crop was just fine until recession reared its ugly head.The weak economy is reducing demand from restaurants because people simply aren't eating out as often, industry officials said this week during the 2009 nation...

Potato processing giant Lamb Weston has no immediate plans to develop a facility in Maine, although the company continues to watch economic and agricultural activity in the state.“We have been monitoring the opportunities for Lamb Weston’s potential in...

Jay Gould: The New York Fries president on selling fries when times are tough (video)

The 13 major [US] potato States held 242 million cwt of potatoes in storage December 1, 2008, down 9 percent from a year ago and 7 percent below December 1, 2006. Potatoes in storage accounted for 66 percent of the 2008 fall storage States' production,...

ConAgra Foods is eager to start a new office building for subsidiary Lamb Weston now that the Richland City Council has approved a new $1.4 million deal for land at Columbia Point. ConAgra spokesman Jeff Mochal said Thursday that some details remain to...

“This fry thing has just exploded,” said Jimmy Burch, partner in Burch Farms Inc., Faison, N.C. “We doubled the business we did last year, and last year we doubled the business we did the year before.”Also expecting to double their fry sales this year...

ConAgra Foods, one of the world's largest packaged foods companies, is changing its environmental programs from compliance-driven to proactive sustainability initiatives.With manufacturing facilities around the globe, ConAgra has implemented an integra...

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) Chairman James E. Matthews Jr. of the H.J. Heinz Company today announced Robert L. Garfield has assumed the role of interim president of AFFI following the resignation of Leslie G. Sarasin. Garfield takes over for...

The U.S. Potato Board recently wrapped a week-long course called "Processed Potatoes 101"for business representatives from more than 14 countries.The gathering, which took place in Pasco, Wash., was the largest the board ever put together. Th...