News on Food Trends from the United States

United Potato Growers of America announced today that its executive board has unanimously chosen Mark Klompien as the organization’s next president and chief executive officer, replacing Jerry Wright.

Un grupo de investigadores han descubierto a través de restos de almidones las pruebas botánicas que muestran cómo fue la evolución del cultivo de la patata en los Andes en la época precolombina, según un estudio publicado en el número de esta semana de la revista PNAS.

Northern Plains Potato Growers Association (NPPGA) has launched a new website, one entirely dedicated to promoting potatoes grown for the fresh market and branded as Red River Valley Potatoes. Fittingly, the new web address is RedRiverValleyPotatoes.com.

Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), formerly known as ConAgra Foods, Inc., has completed the previously announced separation of its Lamb Weston business. The company’s name change has also become effective.

The Idaho Potato Commission is on a roll! Tomorrow they start airing the latest installment in their series of commercials starring the Big Idaho® Potato Truck, now in its sixth(!) year.

Scientists at Cornell University have developed an electric capacitance measurement that is able to predict the root mass of shrubs and trees. What's more, they hint it may helpful for tubers and root crops as well

Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP), along with Silas Capital and Emil Capital Partners, announced it is leading a $3 million financing round in Florida-based Vintage Italia, the manufacturer of Pasta Chips.

A new potato variety that’s genetically modified to withstand bruising has been cleared for commercialization without undergoing USDA’s deregulatory process for biotech crops.

French Fry manufacturer J.R. Simplot has filed a lawsuit against its competitor McCain Foods USA for copying its Twisted Potato Product Sidewinder - a product they protected with a design patent.

Cornell University receives $1.2 million of new state funding to upgrade the Federal Golden Nematode Lab

Metropoulos & Co., a family-owned investment firm specializing in iconic American brands has made a significant investment in salty snack manufacturer Utz Quality Foods, LLC

PepsiCo, Inc. has announced an ambitious global sustainability agenda designed to foster continued business growth in a way that responds to changing consumer and societal needs.

ConAgra Foods, Inc. today announced the record and distribution dates for the spin-off of its Lamb Weston business, which is expected to be effected through the distribution of 100 percent of the common shares of Lamb Weston to holders of ConAgra Foods’ common shares

Utz® Quality Foods, LLC, the largest privately held snack food company in the Unite States, today announced the completion of the acquisition of Golden Enterprises, Inc. by Utz Quality Foods, LLC.

Ishida has launched a new X-ray IX series of inspection to meet the increase in global demand for accurate quality control systems.

Lower retail prices for several foods, including eggs, whole milk, cheddar cheese, chicken breast, sirloin tip roast and ground chuck resulted in a decrease in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Fall Harvest Marketbasket Survey. However, potato prices were up slightly.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it has started a public process to redefine the “healthy” nutrient content claim for food labeling.

As more Whole Foods customers choose to avoid the store and get groceries delivered to their homes through Instacart, the high-end supermarket chain is taking a stake in the four-year-old startup.