News on Food Trends from Oceania

November 14, 2011

McCain Ballarat Potato growers hope for a better potato season

Fourth-generation potato farmer Dominic Prendergast is hoping for a better potato season than last year. At the beginning of this year he led a group of Ballarat growers in a successful protest for better prices against global food giant McCain. In M...

October 16, 2011

Burger King restaurants in New Zealand to change hands

The Blackstone Group announced today that its private equity funds have agreed to acquire Antares Restaurant Group in New Zealand from Anchorage Capital Partners. Headquartered in Auckland, Antares has the exclusive franchise development rights for t...

October 12, 2011

High GI cooked potatoes no problem as part of a meal

Potatoes and other reportedly high-GI foods might not be the dietary villains that recent publicity, books and health-based programmes would claim them to be, a new University of Otago study suggests.

September 24, 2011

Batches of Bluebird potato chips recalled

A number of batches of Bluebird potato chips are being recalled after pieces of blue and green rubber were found inside some packets. The Ready Salted Original Cut Chip packs were produced at the Bluebird Auckland manufacturing plant. Bluebird is war...

September 22, 2011

The United Nations puts the world obesity crisis into the spotlight

The recent General Assembly of the United Nations was a landmark event as it was only the second time the UN had met to discuss health issues - with the last health meeting being held in 2001 and focused on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The United Nations...

August 29, 2011

Potato Psyllids costly for New Zealand Potato Industry

A major pest called the tomato potato psyllid, has cost the potato industry over a $120 million since its initial discovery in 2006, according to a new report from Potatoes New Zealand. Ron Gall, Business Manager for Potatoes New Zealand, presented th...

June 18, 2011

Australian imports of vegetables from China tripled in the past 10 years.

In response to data that Australian imports of vegetables have tripled between 2000 and 2010 AUSVEG spokesperson Andrew White today warned this increase poses a threat to the Australian vegetable industry and the community.

June 08, 2011

Ballarat Potato growers already struck new McCain price deal

Ballarat district potato growers have struck a new price deal with McCain Foods, months ahead of schedule. The growers will be paid an increase of $15 a tonne of potatoes for next year's crop.

May 26, 2011

TNA boosts seasoning capabilities with acquisition of Arcall

Australian provider of packaging machinery tna announced its acquisition of Arcall, a leading supplier of innovative seasoning and cutting systems.

May 18, 2011

Australia: Stop Potato Virus Y by using certified seed only

May 18, 2011

McCain Foods brings 'It's All Good' Campaign to Australia and New Zealand

McCain Foods Australia and New Zealand has announced a new “overarching global company philosophy”, pledging to “spread the goodness” with reformulation of products to eliminate additives or preservatives, emphasise its School Veggie Patches campaigns...

May 12, 2011

Potatopak wins New Zealand's Best Packaging Award

A compostable take-away container made by Potatopak from waste potato starch has won the 2011 Unpackit Award for New Zealand’s best packaging.

May 12, 2011

Potatopak gana premio en Nueva Zelanda por el mejor envase

Un envase para comida producido por Potatopak y elaborado con almidón de papa ganó el Premio Unpackit 2011 al mejor empaque en Nueva Zelanda. El premio fue otorgado luego de revisar más de 9.000 votos del público. Así mismo se premió al peor de los en...

April 15, 2011

Western Potatoes: introducing new varieties requires a long term strategic commitment of farmers

Some Western Australian potato growers feel they are not getting enough support from their marketing body Western Potatoes to help them get new varieties onto the market.

April 14, 2011

New Zealand Potato Growers want more help for potato pest research

Potatoes New Zealand says the potato industry is struggling to deal with the tomato/potato psyllid, which spreads the damaging bacterium Liberibacter, and wants more help from the Government.