News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from Northern America

September 26, 2007

US potato export tops one billion

For the marketing year July 2006 - June 2007 (MY07), the United States Potato Board (USPB) reports total US potato exports were valued at a record $1,000,252,000. On a volume basis, total exports were 1,108,391 metric tons (MT). This represents an inc...

September 24, 2007

Culinary Fries

Is a French fry just a fried potato? Oh, no. Chefs such as Brasserie Beck’s Robert Wiedmaier have been serving up gourmet versions of the fast food classic. Before diners dunk those $7 orders of fries into chef Robert Wiedmaier’s house-made mayonnais...

September 20, 2007

ConAgra Foods reports stronger prices and volumes for Lamb Weston Potato Specialties operations

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE:CAG) one of North America’s leading packaged food companies, today reported results for the fiscal 2008 first quarter ended Aug. 26, 2007. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.36, including net $0.02 per diluted sha...

September 14, 2007

ConAgra buys Prosser plant

ConAgra Foods, an Omaha, Neb.-based food processing company, has an agreement to purchase the Prosser facility from Stanwood, Wash.-based Twin City Foods. The purchase is scheduled to close in the next 30 days, and does not include the facility in El...

September 13, 2007

Cofounder McCain Foods to receive Lifetime Business achievement award

Wallace McCain, chairman of the board of MapleLeaf Foods Inc. and co-founder of one of the world's largest frozen food companies McCain Foods, will receive the coveted Ernst &Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R)2007 Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award...

September 13, 2007

Idaho Spud harvest begins

Jim Tiede operates a farm with his son Alex in the Flat of Pleasant valley and the harvest has just begun. Jim said he didn't expect this year's potato yield to be as good as last year's record crop, but he was encouraged by what they found once they ...

September 12, 2007

Idaho Potato Commission announced new marketing plans

The Idaho Potato Commission announced initiatives for its 2007-08 season that include the release of two new commercials with spokesperson Denise Austin and the launch of a major cable television commercial campaign expected to make over a billion con...

September 12, 2007

Oregon returning to normal potato production in 2007

Bill Brewer, executive director of the Oregon Potato Commission, said that potato growers are looking for a return to normal production in 2007. "So far, we're happy with the quality,"Mr. Brewer told The Produce News. "Potato growers are...

September 12, 2007

Burger King has a new twist on fries: Fresh apples

Hey, kids: wanna chow down on hot fries — or chilled apple slices cut to look like fries?Burger King (BKC) on Wednesday announced that the apple slices — served in a french-fry-like cup — are on tap to add a fresh fruit option to kid-targeted meals. ...

September 07, 2007

ConAgra Foods Strengthens Brand Portfolio Through Aquisition of Lincoln Snacks

ConAgra Foods, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Chicago-based Lincoln Snacks, a privately-held popcorn snacks manufacturer. Lincoln Snacks' priority brands include Poppycock and Fiddle Faddle and various retailers' private label products. The...

September 05, 2007

ConAgra will remove diacetyl - a flavoring linked to a lung ailment - from its Popcorn

The U.S.'s largest microwave popcorn maker, ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG), said it will change the recipe for its Orville Redenbacher and Act II brands over the next year to remove diacetyl, a flavoring chemical linked to a lung ailment in popcorn plant wor...

August 31, 2007

Potato Industry contributes 6.7 billion to the Idaho Economy

Spuds are no longer the top agricultural commodity in Idaho as measured by annual cash receipts. Potatoes yielded that position to the dairy industry several years ago. But spuds are still a huge part of Idaho's agricultural economy, according to a Un...

August 31, 2007

McCain Foods is flaunting its trans fat free profile

The world’s largest producer of French fries, McCain Foods works to convince the public and food preparers that its trans fat free products are even better than ever. When McCain Foods made the decision to go totally transfat free by the end of this...

August 31, 2007

McCain Foods (Canada) Portage la Prairie crowns best growers

First place at the McCain Champion Grower competition came as a bit of a shock for this year’s winners. “I guess we’re certainly surprised,” said Dan Sawatzky from Sawatzky Enterprises of Mac-Gregor, named 2007 Champion Potato Grower for the McCain Foo...

August 24, 2007

McCain Othello trying to attract shift employees

Job growth in the Columbia Basin is creating a demand for workers at McCain Foods in Othello, forcing the international potato processor and other companies to vie for a small group of available shift workers. So McCain is turning to community groups ...

August 23, 2007

Richland gives Lamb Weston another 3 months to decide on land tract

Lamb Weston will get another three months to decide whether it wants to buy a tract of land at Richland's Columbia Point. The city started talks with ConAgra subsidiary Lamb Weston in late 2006 on a $10,000, four-month purchase option for a 7.7-acre...

August 20, 2007

Hardee's(R) Launches New Natural Cut French Fries

After a three-year search -- and an extensive amount of testing and consumer research -- the perfect French fries to complement Hardee's Angus-beef Thickburgers have been found. Beginning today, guests who order a combo meal or a side of fries will be...

August 17, 2007

Cavendish Farms outlines plans for biofuel plant

The french-fry producer Cavendish Farms has detailed plans to build a biofuel plant in the central P.E.I. town of Kensington. At an information session in the town this week, the Irving-owned company outlined how the plant would recycle spent cooking o...