News on Food Trends from Northern America

The Province of Prince Edward Island is providing additional funding support of $500,000 to the Prince Edward Island potato industry, while the federal government also offers $1.5 million additional financial assistance for the purchase and installation of foreign material detection equipment.

A federal judge has signed off on a $25 million settlement in a lawsuit between wholesale grocers and US potato farming associations accused of forming a price-fixing cartel.

Live Better Brands, makers of the Way Better Snacks brand of tortilla chips and crackers, announces a minority growth-equity investment from Alliance Consumer Growth (ACG), a leading consumer-focused private equity firm.

McCain Foods USA was recognized by Idaho Power for its commitment to operational excellence through energy efficiency.

PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has heavily increased her company’s budget for research and development. In fact, she’s doubled it during her tenure. One product to come out of that effort: the Deep Ridged Potato Chip

McDonald's Corporation has announced that global comparable sales decreased 0.3% in May.

Private Equity firm Permira is to acquire two manufacturers of Better-For-You branded and private label snack products, Medora Snacks, LLC and Ideal Snacks Holding Corporation

A research scientist at Agriculture and Agrifood Canada has discovered that naturally-occurring bacteria in soil may offer protection against late blight (Phytophthora Infestans).

The blog FrankenFoodFacts recently published a review of the Innate potato of Simplot Plant Sciences. This blog by Layla Katiraee, who holds a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and is a senior scientist at a biotech company, offers the most insightful review of the Innate Potato PotatoPro has seen so far.

Loblaw Companies Limited and Strang's Produce Inc. are voluntarily recalling certain Farmer's Market and Strang's Produce brands of Russet Potatoes from the marketplace due to possible food tampering with nails and needles.

Prince Edward Island RCMP Major Crime Unit responded to a potential food tampering incident on May 18, 2015, following a complaint that a metal object was found in a potato.

With the theme “What’s Your Health Worth?”, the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s 10th anniversary Food and Health Survey is offering a wealth of new insights into Americans’ health and nutrition, including perceptions of their own health.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has joined forces with McCain Foods Canada and the province’s potato growers in a major project to improve potato yields in New Brunswick by improving soil health.

Whole Foods Market, a leading organic and natural grocery chain, announced it plans to open a new chain of stores with lower prices.

Americans appear confused about the benefits of organics, with many perceiving the organic label as nothing more than an excuse to sell products at a premium, according to new research from MIntel

ConAgra Foods, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Blake’s All Natural Foods, a rapidly-growing, family-owned company which makes natural and organic frozen meals, including pot pies, casseroles, pasta dishes and other entrees.

Ceres, Inc. (NASDAQ: CERE), an agricultural biotechnology company, today announced that the company has licensed its Persephone bioinformatics software to global seed potato developer, HZPC Holland BV.

It appears that the potato crisp is in decline in Britain, according to a survey carried out by 'The Grocer' Magazine