News on Food Trends from the United States

November 06, 2011

FAO Food Price Index eases in October

FAO Food Price Index October 2011 The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 216 points in October 2011, down 4 percent, or as much as 9 points, from September and 22 points, or 9 percent, below its peak of 238 points reached in February 2011. The ...

November 03, 2011

Potato Shopper Study Highlights Opportunities for Retailers

According to the findings of a new study released by the United States Potato Board (USPB), fresh potatoes are more of a planned purchase than ever. But at the same time, this research paints the picture of a potato shopper as someone who is more prone...

November 02, 2011

USDA: wereldwijde vraag naar friet blijft groeien

Onder invloed van een groeiend aantal fast food aanbieders neemt ook de vraag naar bevroren aardappelproducten snel toe. Voor het komend seizoen verwacht het Amerikaans ministerie van landbouw (USDA) zelfs 5 procent meer vraag. Voor seizoen 2011/12, w...

potato dish with stroop in NY restaurant vandaag

November 02, 2011

Hot restaurant menu trends for 2012

According to a Nation's Restaurant News overview of menu trends for 2012 modern takes on Thai cuisine and street-style Indian food will be the hot restaurant trends in 2012.

November 01, 2011

Zebra chip research gains importance as disease spreads

Zebra chip, a disease that affects potatoes, was recently found in the potato-growing regions of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The discovery brings to focus the growing need for scientific answers – something that will be discussed at the SCRI Zebra Ch...

November 01, 2011

Diamond Foods pringles acquisition pushed back to next year due to accounting questions

Diamond Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq:DMND) today announced that its previously announced acquisition of the Pringles snack business from The Procter &Gamble Company ("P&G") is now expected to close in the first half of calendar 2012. Diamond a...

October 27, 2011

2011 Idaho® Potato Crop Marks the 75th Anniversary for the Idaho Potato Commission

Milestone Year Kicks Off with a Tribute to the Farmers and State’s Rich Natural Resources. The 2011 Idaho® potato harvest season is in full swing and the 319,000 acres that will be harvested are expected to yield more than 12 billion pounds of potatoes.

October 26, 2011

Walmart strongest performer among largest North-American hyper- & supermarkets

The hypermarket, supermarket and discounter retail sector in North America is highly organized, with large national and international store chains dominating the marketplace. In 2010, the region's top 10 hypermarkets, supermarkets and discounters toge...

October 25, 2011

Food processors can relieve cost pressures by looking at their oils

The current economic stagnation coupled with very high commodity prices has led food manufacturers to understandably become very price-sensitive. At Cargill, we're always trying to find ways to help our customers promote their products while saving co...

October 24, 2011

Fast-casual growth continues to outpace QSR and full service restaurants

Fast-casual growth continues to outpace that of quick service and full service. Though it’s still a small segment—comprising 6 percent of the restaurant industry—its influence is great. With origins in once-innovative concepts such as Fuddruckers an...

October 23, 2011

Wetenschappers werken aan verbeterde industrie-aardappelen

Onderzoekers aan de Universiteit van Wisconsin-Madison zijn gekozen om een nationale multi-institutionele poging tot kwaliteitsverbetering van verwerkte aardappels te leiden. Volgens de USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is er door het ...

October 23, 2011

Frozen U.S. Potato Exports to Mexico now Duty-Free

The National Potato Council (NPC) applauded today’s complete suspension of the retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports by the government of Mexico. The action comes in response to last week’s approval of the first Mexico-based carrier by the U.S. Departmen...

October 23, 2011

McDonald's: Incremental improvements to drive growth

McDonald’s Corp. is eyeing opportunities to gain global market share by continuing to optimize its menu, updating restaurants and expanding tiered value and premium-item promotions, executives told analysts in a call following the company’s third-quart...

October 21, 2011

Maine Potato Growers warily watching stored crops for degradation from excessive rain

With 99 percent of this year’s approximately 56,000 acres of potatoes harvested, Aroostook County potato growers are watching the stored product to gauge the effect of massive amounts of rainfall this past summer. Don Flannery, executive director of t...

October 21, 2011

Hudson Institute: Better-for-you Foods more profitable

Last week, we at Hudson Institute issued a study titled 'Better-for-you Foods: It's Just Good Business.' We now have evidence that packaged food and beverage companies selling a higher percentage of better-for-you (BFY) products are doing better.

October 21, 2011

Idaho potato crop will be big, but not a record

Coming off of two record years in terms of total crop value and a record yield in 2009, the Idaho potato industry will probably have to be satisfied with merely a good performance for the 2011-12 season. “We will definitely be in the five-year average...

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

October 20, 2011

McDonald's commits to sourcing sustainable palm oil

McDonald’s Corporation today announced its membership in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This membership represents significant progress in the company’s commitment to source palm oil only from RSPO member companies.

October 20, 2011

Agri-Stor acquires Custom Chemical Company

Agri-Stor Company has acquired the assets and business operations of Custom Chemical Company - a full-service provider of potato sprout inhibitors, specialty post-harvest crop protection products and a Certified Dealer of Gellert® climate control systems