News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from Australia

McCain Foods Australia will close its vegetable processing plant in Smithton (Tasmania) after completion of the coming processing season.Staff involved was informed earlier today. McCain Foods Managing Director Australia/New Zealand Steven Yung: "...

Simplot Australia announced today it is to enter the Australasian ready meals market through a combined license and acquisition arrangement with Nestlé Australia. Simplot Australia will licence the leading frozen meals brand Lean Cuisine and Maggi fr...

Australian potato growers are fuming at Woolworths' importation of its "home brand"french fries from the Netherlands. A grower, who did not wish to be named, said Woolworths was "notorious"for overlooking Australian growers to sourc...

Ballarat region potato farmers have slashed the amount of seed they will sow this week because of a drop in demand. McCain Foods (Australia) has reduced the quota it will take from growers after next year's harvest and will pay them about $35 less pe...

Tasmania produces an extensive range of fresh and processed vegetables. As the highest value vegetable produced in the state, the potato is considered the backbone of the Tasmanian vegetable industry. With a farmgate value of $82.5 million, the potato...

About 230 growers will be paid AUS$310-330 per tonne. That is $6 less per tonne of Russet Burbank potatoes and $9 less per tonne of other varieties. Grower Nathan Richardson is glad to finalise a deal and says Simplot has agreed to buy any potatoes ...

Thousands of tonnes of Tasmanian potatoes may have to be dumped, because of falling demand for potato chips (french fries).Potatoes are being harvested now, but vegetable processor Simplot has told farmers it's oversupplied, and can't buy their surplus...

Tasmanian potato farmers are frustrated the vegetable processor Simplot has had to import potatoes [French Fries]from the United States to fill a shortfall caused by the drought. Simplot's Ulverstone plant in the state's north-west is operating 40,00...

McCain Foods says it might have to rely on other sources for its potatoes this season, after last week's heatwave ruined many of the crops near Ballarat.Most potato growers in the region sell their produce to the Ballarat-based frozen food company.The ...

Ballarat district potato growers have been offered a 24 per cent increase to supply potatoes to McCain Foods this year. Growers received a letter last week from the Ballarat food processor stating the increase.It is believed the amount was agreed to ac...

Casual workers at McCain Foods Wendouree plant (Ballarat) will need to check with the company daily regarding shifts through to March, according to a union organiser. The AMWU's Angela McCarthy, who has responsibility for workers at the Ballarat food c...

Ballarat district potato growers have rejected a price offer from McCain Foods to buy this season's crop.While McCain buys most of the region's potatoes, escalating fertiliser and fuel costs mean growers want to see an increase per tonne in price to re...

The potato processor, Simplot Australia, and farmers have been negotiating prices for four months and have agreed to a 35 per cent price rise for the coming crop. Simplot's managing director, Terry O'Brien, says both sides have ended up in a good pla...

McCain Foods has confirmed a cleaning cloth was found in a bag of frozen chips in New Zealand earlier this month. A supermarket checkout operator made the discovery after the package felt unusual. The contamination was reported to McCain Foods and has...

Simplot spud growers say they could be forced to opt out of growing the crop after price negotiations on new contracts hit a stalemate this week. The farmers are seeking a record 33 per cent price rise due to skyrocketing fuel and fertiliser costs tha...

Braddon MHA Bryan Green says a new state-of-the-art storage facility on the North-West Coast builds on the region’s reputation as Australia’s premier potato-growing area.Mr Green today officially opened the $2 million development undertaken by long tim...

Vegetable processor Simplot Australia will import a third of its potatoes this year, more than it has ever had to before. Concerns over water shortages in Tasmania meant that not enough farmers were able to sign contracts to supply potatoes to Simplot...

In CY 2006, Australia produced 1,255 TMT of potatoes from 35,485 hectares, suggesting an average yield per hectare of 35.4 MT. Recently industry restructure and drought has resulted in a potato trade deficit, with growth in imports outstripping exports...