News on Food Trends from the United States

Tracebility from Field to Fork - We all have a Stake in a Healthy Food Supply

July 16, 2014

Traceability from Field to Fork - We all have a Stake in a Healthy Food Supply

Today’s consumers desire to understand the health and nutritional benefits of the produce they buy. That’s why the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI), an industry-wide effort aimed at creating a quick and efficient traceability process by electronically tracking produce from the farm fields to supermarket shelves, is vital.

Innate potatoes show less discoloration after cutting

July 14, 2014

National Potato Council submits Comments in Support of Simplot's Innate Technology

As part of the second and final public environmental assessment comment period for the J.R. Simplot Company's petition to deregulate its biotech Innate™ 1.0 potatoes, the National Potato Council submitted comments to the Federal Register noting that the technology 'could effectively address key production and processing issues facing the potato industry.'

July 07, 2014

ADM Expands Food-Ingredient Offering with Acquisition of WILD Flavors

Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today announced that it is acquiring WILD Flavors GmbH, giving ADM the ability to offer food and beverage companies a comprehensive suite of systems to enhance and improve their products.

July 03, 2014

Saratoga Chip replaces regular salt by Mountain Pure Himalayan pink salt

Saratoga Chip switches to Mountain Pure Himalayan pink salt, a mineral and energy-rich iron alternative to traditional salt for all six Saratoga Chip flavors

June 30, 2014

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston and Community Leaders Celebrate Boardman Plant Expansion

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE:CAG) joined with community and civic leaders today to celebrate the completed expansion of its Lamb Weston frozen potato facility in Boardman, Oregon

June 26, 2014

Warmer winters linked to increased pesticide use

In this USDA research on soybean crops, researchers find a link between minimum winter temperature and pesticide use.

June 26, 2014

Aversion to GMOs becoming driving factor to buying organic.

Among US families, avoiding GMO's is increasingly becoming one of the drivers to buy organic foods.

Nelson Cox (left) / Jared Balcom (right)

June 25, 2014

Washington State Potato Commission Elects New Leadership

The Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) has elected its new Executive Committee. Nelson Cox was named chair of the commission

June 16, 2014

President signs into law revisions to the EPA rules supporting Maine Farmers

President Obama signed into law revisions to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules that ease compliance for farms across Maine.

June 11, 2014

NPD: Total Q1 US Restaurant visits down, but delivery up

The downside and upside for the U.S. restaurant industry in the first quarter of 2014 was that total restaurant visits dipped but delivery and other areas got a boost, reports The NPD Group, a leading global information company.

June 11, 2014

Hillshire Brands merger with Pinnacle Foods off the table after deal with Tyson Foods.

Tyson Foods has won the bidding war for Hillshire Brands against its biggest competitor in the U.S. fresh chicken meat market, Pilgrim’s Pride. The deal is contingent on Hillshire Brands terminating its proposed merger with Pinnacle Foods.

Cheese is the top dietary source of saturated fat in the US diet

June 11, 2014

Saturated Fat Intake May Influence a Person’s Expression of Genetic Obesity Risk

Limiting saturated fat could help people whose genetic make-up increases their chance of being obese

2014 Rabobank Potatoes South Australia Industry Award winner

June 10, 2014

Justin Della Zoppa wins 2014 Rabobank Potatoes South Australia Industry Award

Riverland potato producer Justin Della Zoppa has been named the 2014 Rabobank Potatoes South Australia Industry Award winner.

Potato and Tomato affected by late blight

June 09, 2014

Univ. Florida Research: Late blight pathogen originates from Mexico

A University of Florida scientist has pinpointed Mexico as the origin of the pathogen that caused the 1840s Irish Potato Famine, a finding that may help researchers solve the $6 billion-a-year disease that continues to evolve and torment potato and tomato growers around the world.

June 05, 2014

One in Five North American consumers confuse Local and Organic

With more people buying local and organic food, consumers should know the difference between the two so they recognize what they’re buying, but nearly one in five still confuse the terms, a University of Florida researcher says.

Hairy Nightshade, a weed that has the potential to be problematic in potato cultivation

May 28, 2014

New 'Focus on Potato' Webcasts Tackle Hairy Nightshade, Potato Tuber Moth

Hairy nightshade and potato tuberworm (or potato tuber moth) are two economically important inhibitors to potato production. Two of the latest ‘Focus on Potato’ webcasts focus on these economically important potato pests.

May 27, 2014

Produce Marketing Association redesigns website

In response to member feedback and as part of its new strategic plan implementation, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) unveiled its redesigned website http://www.pma.com on Tuesday, May 27.

You don't HAVE to eat the white potatoes

May 22, 2014

Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Senator Collins' Request to Include Fresh White Potato in WIC Program

Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bipartisan agreement, authored by Senators Susan Collins (R-Me) and Mark Pryor (D-AR), that would allow families using the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to purchase all fresh, healthy vegetables, including the white potato, which has been excluded from the program.