Potato News from Northern America

February 19, 2021

United States potato exports see recovery

United States potato exports continue to recover but remain behind previous year levels. Exports for the first six months of the marketing year, July – December 2020, are behind the record levels set in 2019.

February 15, 2021

New potato packaging compostable at home

February is Potato Lover's Month and Arrowfarms companies Morning Kiss Organic and Gold Bell are introducing new, compostable paper bag potato packaging.

February 15, 2021

Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association elect new president

Bill Guenthner of Guenthner Farms was elected WPVGA Board President for 2021. The WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors elected Chris Brooks of Central Door Solutions to be its President for 2021. The WSPIA Board of Directors elected J.D. Schroeder of Schroeder Bros. Farms, President for 2021.

February 12, 2021

Washington Potato lays off 62 workers at Warden facility

The Washington Potato Co. facility in Warden still smolders the next morning and smoke fills the air after a fire broke out in a potato dehydrator the afternoon of Jan. 21, prompting a response from fire departments across Grant and neighboring Adams counties.

February 11, 2021

HZPC Americas welcomes Aron Derbidge

HZPC Americas Corp. hired Aron Derbidge as Sales and Key Account Manager. According to a press release issued today, the company notes that Aron brings with him over 10 years of experience developing and marketing seed potatoes in the U.S. and Canada.

February 10, 2021

WPVGA Honors Marv and Norm Worzella with Hall of Fame Induction

Long-time potato and vegetable growers Norm and Marv Worzella of Worzella & Sons, Inc., Plover, Wisconsin, were inducted into the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association Hall of Fame at the industry’s annual awards ceremony held February 3, 2021.

February 08, 2021

EarthFresh Premium White Potato Market is Taking off with EarthFresh’s Polar White

As winter weather dominates the country, customers are encouraged to Break the Ice with Polar White potato promotion

February 05, 2021

The power of the Idaho potato brand

In the end, 2020 was a pretty good year for Idaho’s iconic potato industry, but it sure wasn’t easy.

February 05, 2021

Snack Brand PeaTos® Secures USD 12.5 million investment round with Post Holdings as lead investor

Less than six months after raising $7M in a Series A round, PeaTos®, the revolutionary snack chip brand, announced that it has secured Post Holdings, Inc. to lead its $12.5M Series B round.

McCain Foods acquires minority stake in FMCG Data Analytics specialist Fiddlehead Technology

February 05, 2021

McCain Foods increases its stake in FMCG Data Analytics specialist Fiddlehead Technology

McCain Foods Limited has acquired a significant minority share of New Brunswick-based data science company Fiddlehead Technology.

Satellite view of the McCain Foods Grand Falls Facility (Courtesy: Google Maps)

February 02, 2021

Canadian Government announces support for McCain Foods - Grand Falls expansion plans

Today the Government of Canada announced CAD 5 million financial support for the implementation of the new potato specialty line planned at the McCain Foods Grand Falls facility.

February 01, 2021

Husman's snack brand launched 100 years ago in Cincinnati on the way out

People who have long loved the snack at the center of this iconic Cincinnati jingle soon will be unable to heed its cheery call.

February 01, 2021

State of the Restaurant Industry report measures virus' impact on business

New research looks at how restaurants and consumers were changed by the events of 2020 and the year of transition ahead.

Direct-seed potatoes show no harvest hit

January 30, 2021

Low tillage potato trial showed no impact on yield and quality

The amount and quality of the potatoes coming off Chad Berry’s field last fall weren’t that much different from one side to the other, but one half came with a lot less tillage.

January 30, 2021

PepsiCo and Beyond Meat® Establish JV to develop Plant-Based Protein Foods: The PLANeT Partnership, LLC

Partnership advances PepsiCo's commitments to expand its portfolio of positive choices for consumers and for the planet. The venture will allow Beyond Meat to reach more consumers by entering new product categories and distribution channels.

January 29, 2021

Pringles® Releases Out-Of-This-World 2021 Big Game Flavor Stacking Ad

As the biggest snacking day of the year approaches, the Pringles® brand is ready for take-off and releasing its fourth consecutive Big Game spot. Fans were given a sneak peek via the Pringles social channels, and the brand is now debuting the full spot.

January 29, 2021

MountainKing increases fresh potato sales significantly with the use of high-graphic display bins

Just as QSR-chains use enticing menu board images to drive sales of combo meals, jumbo-sized slushies and other selections, retail grocers are using the same concept to capture the attention of shoppers looking for a side dish for their next prepared, at-home meal.

Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council discusses the potential impact of the new administration on the industry

January 28, 2021

Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council discusses the potential impact of the new US administration on the industry

With the inauguration of US President Biden a week behind us now, Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council discusses what the impact of the new administration on the potato industry might be.