Potato News from Washington

Featuring a patented direct drive with a counterbalance system, Zephyr's unique motion profile gently moves product with no segregation or stratification and at higher capacities than can be achieved with other horizontal motion conveyors.

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.

Key Technology announces the appointment of Marco Azzaretti as Director of Marketing.

A WSU study has estimated the 2020 economic losses from potato production and processing in Washington. The demand shocks of COVID-19 resulted in a hit of roughly $1 billion dollars in gross state product.

Powered by Industry 4.0 methodologies and IIoT (the Industrial Internet of Things), modern sorters are increasingly being utilized as data centers at the same time they sort product and are uniquely qualified to contribute to the data revolution.

Regular inspection of sorters and shakers ensures efficient operation and prevents unscheduled downtime. To help prepare you, Key Technology just shared information on their comprehensive equipment audits and spotlighting the unsung heroes of your plant – shakers!

This year, this is a season when dreams die. Due to an epic potato glut that imploded his market, he has decided to do what was once unthinkable — destroy part of his crop rather than sink more dollars into cultivation.

Key Technology has appointed Jesus Acevedo as Area Sales Manager for the Pacific Northwest United States.

Negotiations are underway for next year’s potato grower contracts in Washington.

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, announces the rebranding of its customer service organization as SupportPro.

The National Potato Council cheered the passage of the U.S.- Japan Agreement on Agricultural Trade by Japan’s Upper House.

US Farmer cooperative NORPAC Foods filed a motion in bankruptcy court Friday afternoon to sell its Quincy, Washington, plant for USD 93.5 million to Oregon Potato Company.

As potato harvest starts to wrap up across the Northwest, how does the 2019 crop look?

McCain Foods USA, a leading supplier of frozen potato and snack food products across the country, celebrated the official start of construction of a 170,000-square-foot expansion at its Othello, Washington potato processing facility.

Its harvest time for many in the potato industry, and those not quite to that point, harvest will be here before you know it. Washington State University’s Tim Waters said growers need to continue to watch for pests.

Key Technology has promoted Shayla Wentz to Marketing Communications Manager as Anita Funk retires.

WSU plant pathologists Kiwamu Tanaka and Cynthia Gleason are exploring novel approaches to protect the potato crops against nematodes and scab - mobilizing nature itself.

Heat-related illness is one of the most common maladies to befall outdoor workers, particularly in agricultural settings.