Potato News from Northern America

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has completed its 2022 national survey for potato wart and confirms that potato wart was not detected in the soil samples tested from the fields where the samples were collected.

Ontario Potato Board, Potatoes New Brunswick join the United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC) as the representative of their potato grower members, giving the organisation a truly national reach.

To help offset rising food costs, four farms on Prince Edward Island are opening their potato storages to Islanders. Visitors are invited to help themselves and pick unwashed potatoes directly from the pile in storage. The event occurs Saturday, March 11th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

PFI, a manufacturer of sanitary conveying equipment, announced it has named Tom Vipond as Division General Manager. Vipond will oversee all PFI locations and operations.

The National Potato Council (NPC) installed its 2023 roster of Executive Committee members at the organization’s annual Washington Summit.

Pest Management Specialist Randy Van Haren, who established Pest Pros, Inc. of Plainfield, in 1984, was inducted into the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Hall of Fame at the industry’s Annual Awards Banquet held February 8, 2023, in Stevens Point.

PepsiCo announced a USD 216 million multi-year investment in long-term, strategic partnership agreements with three of the most well-respected farmer-facing organizations

The second day of the hugely successful Mikesell’s potato chip sale has been moved to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday March 6, 2023.

Equipment manufacturer Marel appointed Anna Kristin Palsdottir, Executive Vice President of Innovation to an additional role, Regional Managing Director and President, Marel North America.

Conn’s Potato Chip Company announced on January 13 it has obtained a brand licensing agreement with Mikesell’s and will begin to produce the chip brand in Zanesville effective immediately.

In addition to its annual Hall of Fame induction, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) presented several other annual Industry Awards during a banquet on February 8, 2023, in Stevens Point.

The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Board of Directors has elected Randy Fleishauer as its President for 2023.

SNAXPO23, to be held March 19-21 in Orlando, FL, will include a Startups Hub, Co-Pack Central, Flavor Showdown, Knowledge Zone, and SNAC Bites.

Jack Grote Assumes Leadership of the Lifecycle Business Strategy at Grote Company, Bringing Programs and Services Beyond Equipment to Food Processors to Maintain, Operate and Extend the Life of Machinery.

Unique Snacks, a sixth-generation family snack business, is well-known for its variety of Original Splits Pretzels, Pretzel Shells, Sourdough Craft Beer Pretzel Rings and award-winning pretzel dips.

Agriculture technology (Agtech) has an adoption challenge. There are multiple barriers to introduction and scaling from an industry perspective. An analysis by McKinsey.

The President of Potatoes USA says worldwide demand for the tuber is outpacing production.

TOMRA Food appoints Sean Slevin as new regional sales director for North America.