Potato News from Oceania

Potato salad of new season potatoes (Potatoes New Zealand)

January 08, 2014

Potato claims position of 'Top Vegetable' in New Zealand

The mighty potato has pushed out tomatoes to take the title of New Zealand’s number one favourite vegetable.

December 17, 2013

Simplot Australia potato farmers in Tasmania accept price cut

Simplot processing potato farmers in Tasmania have accepted a $10 per tonne price cut for crops deliverable in 2014.

November 30, 2013

Anchor Organics considering move to former carpet factory in Devonport for expansion

Owners of an old carpet factory in Devonport (Tasmania) have held informal talks with the Devonport City Council about a conversion to a potato processing factory.

November 05, 2013

McCain urged to fund freight of Penola Potato growers

South Australian Potato producers have called for fair freight arrangements following the closure of McCain Foods' Penola plant.

October 30, 2013

New export prospect for New Zealand potatoes

While the potato industry is still waiting for clearance to be allowed to send fresh potatoes to Australia, a new market is rapidly opening up. The industry has high hopes for a new market in Vietnam.

October 27, 2013

New Sustainability App for Australian farmers

Australian minister for the Environment, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, has launched the new EnviroVeg smartphone app for farmers, to help them manage their land sustainably.

October 24, 2013

Australian consumer shows high interest in Asian vegetables

A new study of 741 consumers released by the Australian vegetable industry today reveals almost one third of consumers have shown significant interest in buying more Asian vegetables.

October 24, 2013

Australian vegetable industry welcomes reports Simplot factories to continue operating for at least 3 years

Today’s reports that Simplot’s two vegetable processing plants at Bathurst and Devonport will remain open for at least another three years has been welcomed by peak industry body, AUSVEG.

South Australian New season baby potato auction 2012

October 23, 2013

South Australian New Season Baby Potatoes Auction scheduled for November 1.

The South Australian New Season Baby Potatoes Auction will be held at an Industry Dinner on Friday 1 November 2013. This annual auction is organised by Potatoes South Australia Inc.

October 22, 2013

Australian Potato grower hopes Penola closing will bring efficiencies to the potato industry

Farmer Terry Buckley says he is sad to see the local Penola plant close, but he hopes the Ballarat plant might save the Australian potato processing industry, which is being outpriced by cheaper imports.

October 18, 2013

New Zealand: new Government funding to fight potato psyllids

New research has been funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, to help the potato industry reduce issues caused by an insect intruder – the tomato-potato psyllid.

October 17, 2013

McCain to close potato processing factory in South Australia

McCain Foods has announced it will close its potato processing factory in Penola, South Australia.

Seyedardalan Ashrafzadeh and Dr David Leung

October 15, 2013

Investigan la posibilidad de producir papas libres de cadmio

La investigación que adelanta la Universidad de Canterbury sobre papas libres de cadmio podría ayudar a eliminar otra posible amenaza a la seguridad alimentaria.

October 09, 2013

Major Fresh Potato Campaign launched in Western Australia

The Potato Marketing Corporation of Western Australia has started a campaign to increase the consumption of fresh potatoes.

September 11, 2013

State government removes red tape for Victorian potato growers

Victorian potato growers will face fewer quarantine restrictions when selling their potatoes interstate.

August 27, 2013

New Zealand supplier buys Mr Chips

More details have come out in the sale of Mr Chips by Simplot to New Zealand's Balle Bros, first reported by PotatoPro on August 18.

August 26, 2013

Woolworths Trolley Trends report reveals Australia’s evolving tastebuds

Supermarket chain Woolworths has released a report focused on the changes in the spending pattern of their Australian Shoppers over the past 25 years. The report also highlights the dramatic change in the position of the potato in that shopping cart.

August 18, 2013

Simplot Australia sells stake in NZ potato processor Mr Chips

Simplot Australia has announced that it entered into a conditional agreement to sell its shareholding in its New Zealand-based potato manufacturing and distribution business, Simplot Mr Chips Limited, to the Auckland based Balle Bros Group Limited.