News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from the Americas

March 06, 2009

Comenzo produccion de papa prefrita en Cuba

Los trabajadores del combinado industrial de cítricos de Ciego de Ávila iniciaron la elaboración de papa prefrita, alimento de significativo ahorro en la disminución de importaciones. El propósito es obtener unas dos mil 100 toneladas del producto dor...

AmpliFRY: calculate the profitability of more than one type of french fry

March 02, 2009

Conagra Foods Lamb Weston helps operator profitability with AmpliFRY

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston is known for uncovering opportunities for the foodservice industry in even the most challenging of economies. And today, that opportunity comes via a program that delivers a most innovative kind of support during these tough t...

February 27, 2009

Buildup of frozen potato stocks (french fries) in the US 'raises caution flag'

According to the editor of North American Potato Market News (NAPMN), stocks of frozen potato products increased by 66 million lbs during January. While the increase is virtually identical to the five-year average January buildup, it tends to confirm that demand for US frozen potato products has turned soft, says Bruce Huffaker in the latest issue of NAPMN.

February 26, 2009

Lamb Weston angers Idaho Potato Growers with move towards joint ventures

Lamb Weston, a division of Con-Agra Foods, has decided to grow a larger share of its own potatoes this year through joint ventures or custom-farming arrangements, according to industry officials in Idaho.The move away from traditional contracts with in...

February 24, 2009

Procesamiento de la papa para el consumidor. Evolucion y desafios

La primera parte de este documento describe la evolución del procesamiento de la papa. Se hará hincapié en el crecimiento de la industria de transformación en unos pocos actores mundiales, la ampliación de la escala, las tendencias de consumo, el des...

February 23, 2009

The Recession: Impact on Fast Food Restaurants and Sales of Frozen Potato Products to Foodservice

Tracking data of the sales of frozen potato products to foodservice by the major US potato processors indicates a low single digit drop in pounds sold in the last quarter of 2008 and a high single digit dollar value increase. For entire 2008, the volume sold is flat. Export of frozen potato products is up, both in volume and dollar value, but export is relatively small (about 15%) compared to total sales. There is no clear sign in these tracking data that foodservice is moving away from higher priced specialties.

February 23, 2009

Food spending declines 3.7 % in Q4 2008 in the United States

Fourth quarter 2008 consumer food spending met its steepest decline in more than half a century, according to data from Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Spending on food at retail and restaurants fell 3.7% from the previous quarter, w...

February 19, 2009

Drastic reduction in feathering if you cut your french fries with Kiremko's 'Ultra Fine' knife block

Kiremko introduces the “Ultra Fine” knife block, the latest addition to the range of QuadraFlow hydro cutting equipment. The “Ultra Fine” achieves the highest standards in hydro cutting technology, developed in close cooperation with several processors...

February 19, 2009

Washington Potato Growers agree to modify 2009 contracts with Simplot, Lamb Weston

Washington State Potato Farmers agreed to modifications in the 2009 potato contracts with potato processing companies Simplot and Lamb Weston.Processing Companies agreed in September to give Northwest potato growers a hefty raise on their 2009 pre-seas...

February 17, 2009

McCain Foods Storage specialist John Walsh sees more evolution than revolution in potato storage

The storage of potatoes has come a long way over the past few decades. Remember the old potato houses with cement floors, big wood burning furnaces and poor ventilation? Today tubers are stored in high-tech buildings boasting two-stage ventilation sys...

February 17, 2009

Consumer Reports Tests confirm fast-food french fries are trans-fat free

Good news about fast-food french fries: Tests show they are free of artery-clogging trans fats. The chains stopped using trans fats to make fries over the past few years, but ShopSmart magazine from Consumer Reports, tested some samples from Burger Ki...

February 16, 2009

McCain se consolida con su variedad de productos desde Argentina para el mundo

Mc Cain Argentina, empresa presente en el mercado hogareño y gastronómico (con su planta instalada en Balcarce, Prov. de Buenos Aires) continúa ampliando su gama de productos año a año. McCain es líder en su categoría y respondiendo a ese orgullo es qu...

February 04, 2009

United States: 'Reports about weak demand for frozen potato products exaggerated'

According to market analyst and editor of North American Potato Market News, Bruce Huffaker, alarmists appear to be exaggerating reports about weakness in demand for frozen potato products. While there is no doubt that the economy has hurt demand, one ...

January 26, 2009

Potato Processors cut back Potato Contracts

The first part of 2008 began as a banner year for spuds."But then all of a sudden in the fourth quarter of 2008, things started to change,"Dale Lathim said, Executive Director of the Potato Growers of Washington.Despite how good the french f...

January 26, 2009

Founder of upscale potato chip brand Potato Finger: Good time to start a business

It takes guts to start a business, even in good economic times. So you might think that only the most wildly optimistic entrepreneurs would attempt it now, with the country in the depths of a recession. Maybe so, but it’s hard to keep a good idea down...

January 09, 2009

CONAGRA LAMB WESTON: An in-depth discussion with Mark Hayden, senior VP of supply chain and distribution sales

Refridgerated and Frozen Foods held an extensive interview with Mark Hayden, senior VP of supply chain and distribution sales at Conagra Lamb Weston.An exerpt: “When you get into these types of economic conditions, operators need someone to bring them...

January 09, 2009

Weak economy hits US Potato Industry

The outlook for the 2008 U.S. potato crop was just fine until recession reared its ugly head.The weak economy is reducing demand from restaurants because people simply aren't eating out as often, industry officials said this week during the 2009 nation...

January 08, 2009

Lamb Weston looking at Maine, but not touching

Potato processing giant Lamb Weston has no immediate plans to develop a facility in Maine, although the company continues to watch economic and agricultural activity in the state.“We have been monitoring the opportunities for Lamb Weston’s potential in...