Potato News from Idaho

Continued wet August weather has caused late blight infections to proliferate throughout Eastern Idaho, according to University of Idaho Extension potato pathologist Phil Nolte.

The J.R. Simplot plant in Aberdeen is still up and running, after it was scheduled to officially close its doors on July 31, but a delay in the start-up of the production in the new Caldwell plant has it rescheduled to close Sept. 2.

With more than 100 potato salads in its rich recipe database, as well as tips from the experts and how-to videos, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) website is your top resource for this popular summer side dish.

Extreme heat throughout Idaho to start July has raised concerns from some potato and onion growers.

In the first week of June, an Idaho potato grower could expect to receive between $7.75 and $8.25 for 100 pounds of potatoes, depending on quality, according to data. In the first week of July, prices had fallen to between $4.25 and $4.75.

Despite mid-winter concerns, Idaho growers are concern-free this season when it comes to moisture.

Whether you call them glassy ends, translucent ends, dark ends, jelly ends, or something even less flattering, sugar ends are a significant issue.

Aceto Agricultural Chemical Corporation announced that Nathan Oberg has been hired as its Director, Business Development.

J.R. Simplot Co.'s Idaho potato processing plants in Aberdeen and Nampa, which were scheduled to be closed this spring, will remain open throughout August due to increased demand.

A delay in a $100 million expansion project for McCain Foods USA in Burley, Idaho has area potato growers worried about the status of their contracts to sell produce to the company.

More than 5,000 supermarket chains and independent retailers showcased spuds for Idaho Potato Commission's annual Potato Lover’s Month retail display promotion in February, the most ever in the contest’s 23 years.

The Idaho Potato Commission has developed an Idaho® Potato Varieties poster to take the guesswork out of your potato purchasing.

The Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck is back on the road for its third consecutive cross-country tour with a new message for women: Take care of your heart!

Simplot's Safety Days initiative was recently recognized by McDonald’s Corporation as demonstrating best practices in the “Community Impact” section of the company’s Sustainable Supply awards.

Idaho potato farmers who sell to McCain Foods have agreed to a contract that maintains roughly the same pricing as last season, said Dan Hargraves, who negotiated on their behalf as executive director of Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative.

On February 6, the Idaho Advertising Federation presented I.E. Productions, an Idaho Falls Multimedia Advertising agency with a 1st place Diamond Gem Advertising Award in the Magazine Category for a series of print ads they produced for Klondike Brands™ potatoes.

When the Idaho Potato Commission's CEO Frank Muir saw what happened Monday, he was 'thrilled.' The state's most famous tuber had a starring role in news coverage of a meeting between the U.S. and Russia.

Joseph Pavek bred the popular potato variety Ranger Russet and developed much of the germplasm still used by breeders today, though he retired in 1999.