Potato News from Oceania

Potato Chips are the most popular snack in Australia and New Zealand

August 12, 2013

Potato Chips are most popular snack in Australia and New Zealand

A recent study by Roy Morgan Research shows that potato chips are still Australia’s most popular snack food, with a third of Australians aged 14+ in the year to March 2013 buying the product in an average four-week period.

August 05, 2013

AUSVEG welcomes Australian Prime Minister's acknowledgement of agribusiness as an issue in the election

AUSVEG, the National Peak Industry Body for Australian vegetable and potato growers, has welcomed the Prime Minister's acknowledgement of the importance of investment in agribusiness as part of his announcement of an election to be held on 7 September.

August 01, 2013

Potato Farmer Andrew Combes Rabobank Simplot Young Potato Grower of the year.

Third generation farmer Andrew Combes is the only commercial potato grower south of Hobart (Tasmania, Australia). What's more, the 36-year-old is the new Rabobank Simplot Young Potato Grower of the year.

July 30, 2013

Simplot Australia rejects healthy food rating system

Food processor Simplot Australia has rejected the Star system for labelling healthy and unhealthy food.

July 29, 2013

Potato Industry in South Australia receives government support for training

The State Government of South Australia has awarded AU$43,500 to the Potato Industry for initiatives to make sure workers have skills to meet increasing production demands.

July 22, 2013

Australian Research: DNA soil testing technology to reduce the impact of potato diseases

A multi-year research project, undertaken for the Australian potato industry, will come to fruition this month, with the launch of the project’s cutting-edge DNA soil testing service, which will help the industry to curb the impact of soil-borne diseases.

One of the side spray bars can be used for chemical cleaning or sanitising

May 07, 2013

Wyma offers new Clean-In-Place System for Vege-Polisher™ and Vege-Peeler

Manufacturer of vegetable handling equipment Wyma has developed a series of Clean-In-Place [CIP] features for its Vege-Polisher™ and Vege-Peeler.

April 23, 2013

Tasmanian potato growers 'insulted' by McCain offer

Several Tasmanian potato growers whose contracts were cancelled by McCain last year have rejected new contract offers from the company.

April 23, 2013

McCain Foods brings new branding to Australia

McCain Foods is bringing its new branding to Australia. The new branding, developed by brand agency BrandOpus, was first introduced in the United Kingdom and marked the first complete overhaul of the McCain logo in more than 50 years.

April 21, 2013

New Zealand Potato growers to review lack of increase in potato yield

New Zealand Potato growers are spending NZ$240,000 (~200.000 USD) on research to try to find why their harvests have not been increasing.

April 16, 2013

Australian French fry ad: The Birds Eye hot chip cup

Simplot brand Birds Eye has channeled sports commentating in its latest television campaign for its Hot Chips range.

April 09, 2013

Simple mesh cover could stop potato psyllid

A simple mesh cover could be the answer to halting New Zealand's most devastating tomato and potato pests, the tomato potato psyllid.

March 24, 2013

Nueva Zelanda: Los psílidos de la papa se convertirán en pasto para las mariquitas

Las mariquitas podrían ser la clave para la salvación de un insecto transmisor de una bacteria para la industria de la papa de Nueva Zelanda.

March 24, 2013

Australia: outcome senate inquiry New Zealand Potato Imports further delayed

Potato growers In Australia have been forced to wait longer for the outcome from an inquiry of the Australian Senate into New Zealand potato imports after the report release date was further delayed.

March 20, 2013

Australian potato company Mondello Farms has been placed in receivership

Restructuring and corporate advisory firm McGrathNicol was yesterday appointed as receivers following Heard Phillips being appointed administrators of the company.

March 20, 2013

Australia: Birds Eye launches two new potato chip ranges (French Fries)

Australian frozen food company Birds Eye has launched two new potato chip ranges.

March 11, 2013

Potato Psyllid control with the Southern ladybird advances to field tests

Research conducted by the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University, using the southern ladybird as a biological control agent, has shown the predator to be voracious and effective at reducing tomato-potato psyllid (TPP) numbers.