Potato News from Washington

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, announces the appointment of Jack Lee as President, Key Technology – Americas.

A new Reser’s Fine Foods plant in Pasco is a testament to how the company, which started in a farmhouse kitchen, became one of the most successful private businesses in the country.

Minimizing soil disturbance is one of the key tenets promoted to build soil health in agricultural systems. Many farmers across the country have adopted reduced and no-till systems to build soil carbon, a central component to healthy soils.

At their 400-acre Othello research farm, Washington State University scientists study seed quality, new varieties, pests, and growing practices to help Northwest potatoes thrive

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, introduces its new and improved Auto Diverter for its popular Iso-Flo® vibratory conveyors.

Yara has recently established a new Incubator Farm, aimed at exploring how a complete potato crop nutrition program that drives productivity and grower profitability can simultaneously lead to a reduced carbon footprint.

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, announces the appointment of Buffy Hagerman as Marketing Communications Manager.

Future Co-CEOs Cathy Burns of Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and Tom Stenzel of United Fresh have named the Executive Committee that will serve as officers for the new association.

Key Technology introduces Key Discovery™. This suite of software solutions transforms Key’s digital sorting systems into IIoT connected devices that collect, analyze and share data while sorting product.

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, introduces its Marathon® vibratory conveyors with monobeam construction.

Key Technology introduces Global View™, a patented new software-driven capability for their VERYX® digital sorters. This unique software optimizes product quality, increases yield, collects more sophisticated data and reduces the need for manual inspection.

Jake Blauer is the newly hired post-harvest potato physiologist at Washington State University.

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.

The Washington Potato Company potato dehydration plant in Warden, Washington, was destroyed by a massive fire overnight. The fire caused the immediate evacuation of about a third of nearby town of Warden (pop: 2700) for several hours due to concerns that an ammonia tank located in the plant could burst.

To the untrained eye (and mouth), a Cheetos Snack is a Cheetos Snack. But even die-hard snack lovers might not realize the lengths to which engineers go to ensure each bite has the optimal crunch, lightness, and shape.

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, announces the appointment of John Dykstra as Director of Service Operations for North America, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Potato packer Skone & Connors installs Tong grading and washing equipment. The custom-built potato grading and washing solution enabled this US based company to increase their sizing capabilities of both dirty and washed crop, whilst reducing waste.

Launching new research in support of Washington potato growers, Washington State University is partnering with industry leaders to study healthier, more sustainable, and productive soils.