Potato News from Northern America

An equipment fire at the Simplot potato processing plant in Grand Forks, ND late last Wednesday, forced employees to evacuate and caused an estimated USD 150.000 of damage.

Bühler Aeroglide, a global leader in thermal process engineering and technology for food, feed, and industrial markets has appointed Tom Barber, vice president of capital sales, and Jason Pintuff, director of process engineering.

Earlier this month, USDA-NASS published its annual report 'Potatoes 2017 Summary; September 2018'. The 2017 data indicate a slight increase of the total potato production in the United States compared to the previous year.

About a quarter of the workers at the Cape Cod Potato Chips facility in Hyannis, Massachusetts were laid off as two of the three production lines are shut down.

Nora Snacks, a US subsidiary of the Thai seaweed manufacturer Taokaenoi brings its popular seaweed chips to American palates

Cargill is expanding its Simpure portfolio of label-friendly functional native starches with the addition of three potato starches designed for meat, meat alternatives and culinary applications.

United Potato Growers of Canada has released an update on the potato crop in the various provinces of Canada.

Hurricane Florence, is making landfall in North Carolina, where 55 percent of the US sweet potatoes are grown (acreage) this year.

Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries announces the 10th Anniversary of its multiple award-winning spirit, Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka. In commemoration the distillery has released limited edition 10th Anniversary bottles paying homage to the Pittsburgh skyline.

Tasteful Selections®, a specialty potato brand from RPE Inc., has expanded its line of mini sweet potato trays to 6 flavors, covering sweet, savory and trending favorites.

'How to lower Costs of Anti-foam Agent in potato processing facilities' is based on materials provided to PotatoPro by ChemFree Defoam LLC.

Les Fermes FC Daigle Inc. of Drummond was named the 2017-2018 McCain Champion Potato Grower for Grand Falls, New Brunswick. The Daigle family has been contracting with McCain Foods for 42 years

The Top 10 Potato Growers for the McCain Foods Easton, Maine French Fry plant were recognized at the annual McCain Grower Barbecue at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center in Presque Isle last month

Heat and Control has announced they will be exhibiting at PACK EXPO International 2018, where the processing & packaging equipment manufacturer will be demonstrating its next generation of seasoning, conveying, weighing, packaging, and inspection systems

Potatoes USA has launched a video campaign on social media to boost the image of potatoes by focusing on their performance-boosting benefits

Old Oak Farms®, RPE’s core commodity brand, is bringing excitement to the fingerling potato for the third year in a row, with Party Potatoes®.

Prince Edward Island has never kept its unique potato dish 'Fries With The Works' a closely guarded secret. But with the publication of a dedicated website and an online map, it is clear Islanders want to proudly invite EVERYONE to start enjoying.

Idaho Potato Packer The Mart Group, LLC, operating as Mart Produce, announced the appointment of Jason Allen as its new CEO effective August 23rd, replacing Brian Hansen who has acted as the Interim CEO since July 2017.