News on Food Trends from Northern America

The International Potato Technology Expo, a leading potato event in Canada, returns to the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown February 21-22, 2020.

WSU plant pathologists Kiwamu Tanaka and Cynthia Gleason are exploring novel approaches to protect the potato crops against nematodes and scab - mobilizing nature itself.

Heat-related illness is one of the most common maladies to befall outdoor workers, particularly in agricultural settings.

McCain Foods, the global leader in frozen french fries, potato specialties and appetizers, announces a new strategic partnership and lead investment in NUGGS, a New York based start-up.

Yesterday, TreeHouse Foods, Inc., a leading manufacturer of private label foods, announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Company's Snacks Division to Atlas Holdings LLC.

Ongoing studies at the University of Idaho’s Aberdeen Research & Extension Center seek to help seed potato growers avoid a chronically troublesome disease spread by aphids, called potato virus Y, writes John O’Connell in the Idaho State Journal.

McDonald’s restaurants in Ontario gave away more than half a million orders of free french fries during the Toronto Raptors 2019 NBA playoffs run, the company said Monday, after tallying the final numbers for its runaway promotion.

Utz Quality Foods, LLC announced today their affiliation with WeStock™, the crowd-stocking application (app) designed to help every day shoppers discover and request new food and beverage products.

Government of Canada announces the first-ever Food Policy for Canada.

The Idaho Potato Commission has found that the best way to communicate that potatoes are part of an active, healthy lifestyle is to show it. Therefore, the IPC sponsors several athletic programs and events that support and encourage folks to be active.

The National Potato Council joined with over 950 farm groups and agricultural
organizations in a letter urging Congress to immediately ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada
Agreement (USMCA).

NewCold, a specialist in automated cold storage, announced the opening of its $90 million, 180,000-square-foot facility in Burley, Idaho. French fry maker McCain Foods is NewCold’s largest Idaho customer.

In response to the explosive growth and demand for smaller-sized potatoes in smaller-sized bags.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has expanded the drought emergency declaration to cover nearly half of Washington state due to worsened, poor water supply conditions around the state and warmer and drier weather predictions through the summer.

PepsiCo, Inc., announced the launch of PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab, a first-of-its-kind suite of capabilities built to connect foodservice operators with the companies, services, insights, and solutions best suited for their specific needs.

United States potato exports of frozen, dehy and fresh have all posted modest gains through the first three quarters of the July 2018 – June 2019 marketing year.

NC State grew the North Carolina sweet potato industry into a global powerhouse. Now we're leading the effort to breed sweet potatoes that could provide economic opportunities and better nutrition for people in African countries. (Courtesy: Bill Krueger)

An analysis of the latest Nielsen data provided by the Private Label Manufacturing Association reveals that private label dollar volume in the mass retail channel surged +41% over the last five years, compared to a gain of only +7.4% for national brands.