Industry Associations

The potato industry needs innovation to create a long-term rise in demand, U.S. Potato Board President Tim O’Connor said at the group’s annual meeting.“There’s a difference between increasing demand and just getting a temporary sales bump,” O’Connor sa...

Lamb Weston, a division of Con-Agra Foods, has decided to grow a larger share of its own potatoes this year through joint ventures or custom-farming arrangements, according to industry officials in Idaho.The move away from traditional contracts with in...

Washington State Potato Farmers agreed to modifications in the 2009 potato contracts with potato processing companies Simplot and Lamb Weston.Processing Companies agreed in September to give Northwest potato growers a hefty raise on their 2009 pre-seas...

Anyway you slice it, dice it, mash it or fry it, a new survey by the Idaho Potato Commission reveals American's favorite vegetable is the potato. And, despite February being Potato Lover's Month, growers are worried they won't break even on this year's...

Washington potato grower Ed Schneider has been elected to lead the National Potato Council. The organization advocates for the economic well-being of U.S. potato growers on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental and trade issues.  In addition,...

Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, addressed a group of roughly 120 growers at the Washington State Potato Conference in Kennewick Tuesday, where he provided an update on key issues for the potato industry.One of...

When potato growers line up for their potato bar lunch at the 48th annual Washington State Potato Conference, they will be meeting and eating an old acquaintance with a new name.The new Classic Russet being topped and served by Commissioners this year ...

Members of the Washington State Potato Commission's research committee recently returned from a trip to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Western Regional Research Center.Commission Research Director Andy Jensen said the reason for the trip to the A...

Potato production in the state is expected to reach 22.7 million cwt in 2008 from 81,000 harvested acres, which is down 11 percent from last year. The average production per acre was higher, however, with the 2008 average yield pegged at a record high ...

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) Chairman James E. Matthews Jr. of the H.J. Heinz Company today announced Robert L. Garfield has assumed the role of interim president of AFFI following the resignation of Leslie G. Sarasin. Garfield takes over for...

Potato harvest is winding down in the Columbia Basin this week, with contracted growers reporting decreased profits and fresh market prices more than doubling from last year.Fresh market prices for Russet Norkotahs increased last year from between $4.7...

Representatives for charitable organizations were back in Idaho this week to explore different ways of using dehydrated potatoes in international food aid programs.The visit, sponsored by the U.S. Potato Board, included representatives from nine privat...

Each year, PMMI invites exhibitors to submit their most innovative packages to be voted on by PACK EXPO attendees through PACK EXPO Selects. Once the finalists are identified, PACK EXPO attendees choose the packages they feel best illustrate new and f...

The Idaho Potato Commission, Eagle, has appointed Shawn Walters chairman.Walters, a third-generation potato farmer and co-owner of Walters Produce, Newdale, was appointed to serve a one-year term, beginning on Sept. 15, spokeswoman Krista Paglisotti sa...

A project at the University of Maine to produce new varieties of potatoes that can stand up to disease while giving Maine growers new marketing opportunities recently received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Duane Maatz has resigned as president of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, to become the executive director of the Wisconsin Potato &Vegetable Growers Association, Antigo, Wisconsin.

Chef Yutaka Yamazaki of the Technology Development Division of Saint-Germain made potato pan bread for this study. Based on his experience in Europe, he recommends making bread with potatoes. He used US dehy standard potato flakes, which have high qual...

The July issue of Better Homes and Gardens introduced Frito-Lay’s new advertorial (an advertisement that looks like editorial content). Titled “Keeping up like the Joneses,” it features a photo of an attractive mother and her three children bringing g...