Industry Associations from the United States

November 16, 2011

Idaho Potato Shippers In Need Of More Rail Cars

Idaho potato shippers are hitting a bit of a wall when it comes to getting that Idaho gold out of the fields and on the road. It could be the biggest catch-22 in the potato shipment industry right now. The Idaho Grower Shippers Association represents ...

November 14, 2011

Idaho spud crop larger in more ways than one

Idaho potato growers saw increases in yields, tuber sizes and total production from last fall, according to a report released Nov. 9 by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide, the 2011 spud harvest totaled 127 million hundredweig...

November 12, 2011

Process Expo 2011 sees record breaking attendance

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) today announced registered attendees of 12,732 for PROCESS EXPO 2011, which took place from November 1-4, 2011 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

November 10, 2011

Idaho growers eye BASF's new GM potato

More than a decade has passed since Jim Tiede was among the growers caught up in a debacle over the first U.S. genetically modified potato variety. Even today, the American Falls, Idaho, farmer copes with the fallout of planting Monsanto's GM potato N...

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...

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 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 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

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...

October 20, 2011

When did potatoes become unpopular?

Potatoes have gone from nation-building superfoods to national pariahs. Why?

October 19, 2011

AFFI applauds senate approval of Collins-Udall Amendment to block limit on Starchy vegetables in Schools

AFFI President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz issued the following statement today in support of an amendment to a Senate agriculture appropriations bill that blocks the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from limiting the amount of potatoes, corn, peas, li...

October 18, 2011

Senate votes for unlimited potatoes in schools

The Senate threw its support behind the potato Tuesday, voting to block an Obama administration proposal to limit the vegetable on school lunch lines. Agriculture Department rules proposed earlier this year aimed to reduce the amount of french fries i...

October 18, 2011

Senator Collins scores key victory to keep healthy vegetables in school meal program

In a major victory, the United States Senate tonight unanimously approved a bipartisan amendment, authored by Senator Susan Collins, to the Fiscal Year 2012 Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill that would protect the flexibility of schools to serve h...

October 17, 2011

US Potato politics: The potato wars

Sen. Susan Collins is a more gentle soul than your typical Republican Steering Committee regular, but there she was in the Capitol last week: Ms. Maine Moderate lunching with the “Sons of Jesse Helms” — all in the name of the potato. It was a jaw-drop...

October 16, 2011

Idaho Potato Commission's Foodservice Ad Campaign Receives Produce Marketing Excellence Award

Project Reinvent, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) popular foodservice advertising campaign, was the recipient of Produce Business’ 23rd Annual Marketing Excellence Award. It was one of 20 campaigns recognized by the magazine. Project Reinvent was ...

October 13, 2011

US Congress approves trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama

Ending a long stalemate, US Congress approved three new trade agreements Wednesday evening, signing off on deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama in an attempt to increase U.S. exports and create thousands of jobs. Among the potential winners are...

October 12, 2011

Idaho Potato Prices are half of last season

Last year's potato prices in Idaho hit record highs, but left people with a fear that this year's crop would see a big price drop, and it did. The prices are definitely a lot lower than last year, but it would have been incredibly hard to match those ...

October 11, 2011

Demand for red potatoes remains strong

Although Red River Valley’s red potatoes are still viewed as a specialty item, demand is strong and grower-shippers expect it to remain so. The Packer’s 2011 Fresh Trends reported that 16% of consumers surveyed preferred to purchase red potatoes, whil...