News on Food Trends from the United States

September 28, 2011

Gold Dust Potato Processors Completes Solar Power Initiative

The last two solar power generating stations of Gold Dust and Walker Brothers' Solar Initiative have been activated by Pacific Power and Light. The two solar stations are located at potato storage cellars outside of Merrill.

September 27, 2011

Potato farmers more likely to use electronic technology than students

To learn more about use of electronic technology among its clients, the University of Idaho Extension surveyed 80 university students and 135 potato farmers. It was found that the farmers were likely to use more technology than the students were. It...

September 27, 2011

Potassium: Potatoes are the most affordable source

Potatoes were the lowest cost source of dietary potassium, a nutrient identified by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines as lacking in the American diet. The high cost of meeting federal dietary guidelines for potassium, 4,700 mg per person per day, presents a ...

September 27, 2011

Kids say 'potato,' USDA says 'poh-tay-NO'

Sen. Susan Collins, who hails from Maine's potato country and picked potatoes as a girl, is working to restore some respect for the humble spud, which is on the verge of being virtually banished from the nation's school lunch programs. New guidelines ...

September 27, 2011

Las papas son la fuente más accesible de potasio

El Dr. Adam Drewnowski y sus colegas de la Universidad de Washington juntaron información proveniente de varios organismos dependientes del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA) con el fin de determinar el valor nutritivo del potasio...

September 26, 2011

Potato Storage Research Facility ceremoniously handed over to University Wisconsin

Today, the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) has ceremoniously “handed over the keys” of the Potato and Vegetable Storage Research Facility (SRF) to the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW). The ceremony gives the WPVGA a cha...

September 24, 2011

Idaho Potato Commission Recognized for its Retail Ad Campaign by Produce Business Magazine

The Idaho Potato Commission's (IPC) popular comic book themed Retail advertising campaign was the recipient of Produce Business' 23rd Annual Marketing Excellence Award for the fourth consecutive year. This action-packed campaign, delivered both as ad...

September 22, 2011

Yum Brands Sells A&W, Long John Silver’s

Yum! Brands Inc. agreed to sell its Long John Silver’s restaurants to LJS Partners LLC and the A&W All-American Food chain to A Great American Brand LLC for undisclosed prices as it focuses on expanding in China. Definitive agreements have been re...

September 22, 2011

Conagra Foods publishes 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), one of North America's leading packaged food companies, today released its 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report, providing a detailed look at the company's efforts.

September 20, 2011

WHO to target trans fats and salt to curb ‘tide of non-communicable diseases’

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified trans fats and salt intake amongst its list of low-cost interventions to counter the rise of diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. Non-communicable diseases like heart attack...

September 20, 2011

NPD: US Restaurant Traffic Stalls in Spring After Three Quarters of Gain

Just as the U.S. economy stalled in the second quarter of the year, so did restaurant industry traffic, according to The NPD Group, a leading market research company. NPD's foodservice market research shows that visits to U.S. restaurants slipped by 0....

September 20, 2011

ConAgra Withdraws Bid After Ralcorp's Rejection

ConAgra Foods Inc. withdrew its $5.2 billion bid to acquire Ralcorp Holdings Inc. after Ralcorp again rejected the rival food maker's offer Monday and said it won't negotiate the offer. A spokeswoman for ConAgra said the company was "disappointed...

September 20, 2011

Conagra Foods reports Q1 2012 results;price increases at Lamb Weston

ConAgra Foods, Inc. today reported results for the fiscal 2012 first quarter ended Aug. 28, 2011. Following are selected statements from the release deemed of interest for the potato- and food industry. Read the full news release Diluted EPS from co...

United States Potato Board International Seed Symposium

September 19, 2011

USPB Conducts Largest Ever International Seed Symposium

The United States Potato Board (USPB) held its largest ever International Seed Potato Symposium in Denver, CO, August 1, 2011. This year’s seed symposium included buyers from Brazil, Burkina Faso, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua, Egypt, Uruguay, Hondur...

September 19, 2011

US Agricultural research supported by tax-exempt donations?

Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to allow tax-exempt donations to support agricultural research as a means to help keep American agriculture on the forefront of food production breakthroughs. The Charitable Agriculture Research Act (...

September 15, 2011

Michelle Obama makes headway calling for Healthy Foods

Calorie by calorie, first lady Michelle Obama is chipping away at big portions and unhealthy food in an effort to help America slim down. In the year and a half since she announced her campaign to curb childhood obesity, Mrs. Obama has stood alongside...

September 15, 2011

McDonald's has started the roll out of its healthier Happy Meals

McDonald's has started rolling out its new, healthier Happy Meals in some markets. By the end of this week, the offering will be on the menus of McDonald's restaurants in the New York Tri-State and a number of markets in California.

September 15, 2011

FDA Seeks Public Comment on Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption

On September 13, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with several key initial partners, launched Million Hearts, an initiative that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. As one component of ...