News on Food Trends from Northern America

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (PMMI) has released this month a report “Bakery and Snacks — Market Assessment 2012.” The report - available here for PMMI members - details the effects of changing retailer demands, eating habits, dem...

The United States Potato Board (USPB) is pleased to announce the promotion of Alexandra Imhof to the position of USPB Industry Communications &Policy Manager, effective July 1, 2012. She has been with the USPB since August 2003, when she was hired ...

Dorman Brothers, an agricultural supply company with locations in Goodland, Kansas, and in Colorado at Burlington and Cheyenne Wells, will join Simplot’s AgriBusiness Group as part of the Simplot Grower Solutions network. “Our goal at Simplot Grower S...

An Alberta politician, the Liberal MLA David Swann, called on snack-food giant Frito Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo., to boycott Alberta potatoes because child labour remains unregulated on provincial farms. The New Democrats later joined the Alberta Fe...

Potandon Produce announced that beginning in July, Green Giant® Fresh Klondike Rose Potatoes is participating in the Box Tops for Education program.

McDonald's is touting its "under 400 calories"items, including the venerable Filet-O-Fish sandwich. Burger King has just added smoothies and salads to its menu. Wendy's is pitching a new mobile app that lets customers personalize meals based ...

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets today alerted consumers that Optima Distributors LTD, located at 66-15 Traffic Ave. in Ridgewood, NY, is recalling Del Campo brand Dried Potato due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The re...

Americans are throwing away 40 percent of food in the U.S., the equivalent of $165 billion in uneaten food each year, according to a new analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council. In a time of drought and skyrocketing food prices, NRDC outline...

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) announced today that it has completed its acquisition of the Bertolli® and P.F. Chang’s® Home Menu frozen meals businesses from Unilever PLC, for total cash consideration of $267 million, subject to adjustment. The comp...

New technology is being evaluated that may help potato farmers currently dealing with near-record droughts irrigate in ways that are more efficient and cost-effective than traditional methods.

More than a dozen lawyers who previously took on the tobacco companies have filed 25 cases against industry players like ConAgra Foods, PepsiCo, Heinz, General Mills and Chobani that stock pantry shelves and refrigerators across America. The suits, fi...

The former Klamath Basin Fresh Direct has officially changed its name to Klamath Basin Fresh Organics. Chairman Dan Chin said the business is solely focused on organic production, and the name change makes that direction clear.

The federal government is providing $109,000 for the University of Idaho to study an emerging plant disease the school says “poses a substantial threat to the state’s potato industry.” The money will be used to monitor potato fields for the presence o...

A global food crisis may “hit us very soon” as a drought ravages corn crops in the U.S., the world’s largest grower, the International Food Policy Research Institute said. Governments must act to prevent the crisis, Shenggen Fan, director-general of t...

The hot, dry summer continues to take a toll on the Prince Edward Island potato crop and yields for some varieties are expected to be down 25 per cent. “It is serious. But we're not desperate yet I guess is the best way to put it,” said Gary Linklette...

Children are far more likely to pick a healthier fast-food meal when promotional toys are offered only with those menu options and not with less nutritional fare like burgers, fries and a pop, according to a Canadian study.

Pre-sliced apples distributed by Missa Bay LLC, owned by Ready Pac Foods Inc. of Swedesboro, N.J.to fast-food and grocery chains across the United States are among packaged products being recalled due to possible contamination with Listeria bacteria.

Frito-Lay North America division announced the launch of a gluten free recipe section on its website www.frito-lay.com to help make snacking easier and more enjoyable for consumers with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities.The new recipe section on t...