Potato News from Northern America

October 15, 2020

Maine, US: Drought shrinks Aroostook County potato yields

This year’s potato harvest was met with an unrelenting drought that diminished crops and tied up water resources for Aroostook County, Maine farmers.

October 15, 2020

Drought dries up potato harvest revenue in New Brunswick

With the harvest season underway, the impact of summer's drought-like conditions is being unearthed in New Brunswick. Due to a lack of rainfall during the growing season, potato farmers say their yields are down significantly for fall 2020.

October 14, 2020

Heat and Control Reaches Two Milestones in 2020

Heat and Control, a world-leading equipment manufacturer and food processing industry supplier, marks two major milestones in 2020—the 70th anniversary of the company and the 25th anniversary of FastBack, the industry pioneer and leading horizontal motion conveyor.

Sixth-generation, family operated business to enhance e-commerce presence and direct-to-home delivery services of premium snacks with more flavor, fewer ingredients and smarter baking

October 09, 2020

Unique Pretzel Bakery, Inc. Rebrands as Unique Snacks with New Packaging

Amidst the ongoing pandemic, Unique Pretzel Bakery, Inc., a sixth-generation family business based in southeastern PA – a region recognized as the pretzel capital of the world, saw an opportunity where other businesses were forced to close or postpone corporate initiatives.

Redcay's promotion one of several recent investments in talent and resources as Utz aspires to increase innovation

October 09, 2020

Utz Brands Appoints Shannan Redcay To Senior Vice President Of Innovation And Value Creation

Seeking to further accelerate innovation as consumer snacking continues to rise, Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) announced it has appointed Shannan Redcay to the role of Senior Vice President of Innovation and Value Creation.

October 09, 2020

Restaurant chain TGI Fridays® now offers Beyond Chili Loaded Potato Skins

TGI Fridays® is partnering with Beyond Meat®, a leader in plant-based meat, and one of the dishes on offer is Beyond Chili Loaded Potato Skins.

Lamb Weston Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Results; Provides Update for Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021

October 08, 2020

Potato Processor Lamb Weston Reports Q1 F2021 results and provides update for Q2

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LW) announced today its fiscal first quarter 2021 results and provided a business update for the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

October 08, 2020

SNAC International Announces New Date for SNAXPO 2021

SNAC International, the leading international trade association for the snack industry, today announced SNAXPO, the most valued trade show and convention devoted exclusively to the international snacking industry, will be held August 22-24, 2021 in Charlotte.

October 07, 2020

Study Shows More US Households are Purchasing Potatoes

US Fresh potato sales increased significantly from July 2019 through June 2020, and so did the number of households buying potatoes. Eighty-eight percent of households purchased potatoes on an average of 10 times during the 52-week period.

Rick Peters, vegetable pathologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Charlottetown, says scab is increasing on P.E.I. because of changing weather patterns. (Kirk Pennell/CBC)

October 06, 2020

Canadian Scientists Look for Ways to Grow Scab-Resistant Potato

Two research scientists on P.E.I. have spent their summer trying to grow a better potato, more resistant to scab and greening, which are both costly problems for potato growers.

October 06, 2020

ParmCrisps Launches Plant-Based, Dairy-Free Cheese Crisps

ParmCrisps, the nutritionally on-trend snack brand, has once again broken through the confines of the cracker category. The brand is eager to announce its newest line, Plant-Based ParmCrisps, made from 100% dairy-free cheese.

New CIP System cleans during operation and sanitation – dramatically reducing downtime

October 01, 2020

Vanmark introduces Clean-In-Place system for its Peeler/Scrubber/Washers

Vanmark has introduced a Clean-In-Place (CIP) system for its Peeler/Scrubber/Washers. This CIP System cleans during operation and sanitation – dramatically reducing downtime.

Construction Potato Processing Plant Expansion McCain Foods - Othello to resume early October

September 29, 2020

Expansion Potato Processing Plant McCain Foods in Othello to resume early October

McCain Foods USA announced the restart of construction of its 170,000-square-foot expansion at its Othello, Washington potato processing facility. Paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, construction will resume in early October.

September 29, 2020

Utz Brands to jump-start its entry into the filled Pretzel segment with acquisition of specific H.K. Anderson assets

Utz Quality Foods has entered into a definitive agreement with Conagra Brands to acquire certain assets of the H.K. Anderson business, a leading brand of peanut butter-filled pretzels.

The Lingít K'úntsx' variety has been grown by coastal Tlingit for over 200 years

September 29, 2020

Carcross/Tagish First Nation Harvest Heirloom Potato Crop

The smallest potato from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation garden harvest this year was the size of a pea. The spud might be tiny, but its ancestors travelled a long way to get here. The Lingít K'úntsx', or Tlingit potato, has been grown in Alaska for over 200 years.