News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from Oceania

McCain Foods has installed proprietary world-leading technology in the form of a Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) generator, as part of the company’s latest upgrade to its Smithton plant in Tasmania.

Potato and vegetable growers have vied for the title of top producers as part of Simplot's Annual Grower Awards. The Awards, which have been in place since 1997, recognize the outstanding achievements of Tasmania's potato and vegetable growers during the 2020-2021 harvest.

The much-awaited return of ‘McCain Smiles’ to Australia is here with just half the traditional cooking time. Now that’s something to smile about.

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has released its Interim Report (Essential Facts and Conclusions) on the investigation into European dumping of frozen processed potato into the NZ market.

Lamb Weston has named Simone Anderson as the new Vice President and General Manager, Lamb Weston Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), beginning January 4, 2021.

A taste of Bundaberg will be served around the country as Sweet Potatoes Australia partners with Edgell to launch their new Sweet Potato Fries .

A storage facility capable of storing 11,000 tonnes of potatoes has opened in Burnie, Tasmania. The facility, which can hold 9,000 tonnes in cold-storage long term as well as a further 2,000 tonnes in short term storage, is run by McCain.

McCain Foods Timaru potato processing plant is reducing its energy usage environmental impact, now looking to electrification, by installing Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology, a first in New Zealand.

In Tasmania, Australia, McCain Foods has completed the upgrade of its Smithton plant. The capital invest included an expansion on its retail production and the installation of a new fryer and batter applicator.

In the race to decarbonise the economy, industrial processing is a tough nut to crack given the amount of heat needed to process goods.

Potatoes New Zealand is asking the New Zealand government to give urgent consideration to imposing short-term measures limiting the importation into New Zealand of heavily discounted frozen potato chips to avoid a food security threat.

Tasmanian potato growers, who produce the bulk of Australia’s French fries, are having a disastrous harvest. Months of wet weather is making it impossible to get onto paddocks in parts of the state.

Adelaide, South Australia has been named as the host city for the 2023 World Potato Congress (WPC), the first time this event has been held in Australia. The announcement was made during Potatoes South Australia’s Annual Industry Dinner and Auction.

A long-awaited price increase has come for the state's McCain potato growers. Grower Beau Gooch said the $33 per tonne increase would help put profitability back in the paddock.

More than 80 potato growers in Tasmania, Australia felt a sense of relief when receiving Simplot's second offer for their processing potatoes, says Nathan Richardson, chairperson of the Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association (TFGA) Vegetable Council.

Tasmanian potato growers say Simplot is not paying them enough for their vegetables, as they negotiate a new contract with the vegetable processing giant.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ready Meals Pty Ltd (Ready Meals), a frozen potato processor in Australia.

McCain has launched a range of craft beer battered chips via a new campaign from Cummins&Partners that "challenges the norm" of online advertising with a long and complex audio clip.