News on The Potato Supply Chain from the Americas

Several newly evolved strains of the disease known as potato virus Y, or PVY, can render potatoes unmarketable and reduce crop yield. What’s worse is the new viruses are particularly difficult to detect with the naked eye.

There is good news for potato salad lovers just as the season for chilled potatoes officially heats up. New research published in the scientific journal Food Chemistry adds to the growing body of evidence that shows that cooking and cooling potatoes can significantly increase the amount of Resistant Starch (RS).

The International Potato Center (CIP) has published its annual report for 2015.

RPE, Inc.’s bite-sized potato brand, Tasteful Selections™, is continuing its efforts to inspire consumers to rescue moments and spend more quality time with family by creating delicious time-saving recipes and useful cooking tips.

Last Thursday, the United States Senate has passed, by a vote of 63 to 30, a bill that would create a national standard for labeling food made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

A federal judge in Mexico’s Northern State of Sinaola issued a decree that bans the import of fresh potatoes from the United States.

The Little Potato Company celebrated construction of its first U.S. plant June 29 in DeForest. The new $20 million, 130,000-square-foot plant, which is being built by Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies, is scheduled to open in January 2017.

La calidad del suelo colombiano está en problemas. Así lo revela un informe del Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (IGAC), según el cual el uso inadecuado, la compactación, la contaminación por plaguicidas y fertilizantes, la erosión, el mal riego y la eliminación de coberturas (deforestación) son las seis ‘plagas’ que están matando al suelo.

El primero de agosto se dio inicio al mes de la Pachamama y por tal motivo la Unidad de Promoción de Saberes Ancestrales del municipio de El Alto (La Paz) preparó un acto ceremonial en la Apacheta para realizar una Wajt’a (ofrenda) de agradecimiento a la madre tierra.

El Ministerio de Agricultura y Tierras aprobó la solicitud hecha por las asociaciones de productores de papa, en donde ellos aportaran el capital para llevar adelante la importación. Mientras el Gobierno a través de sus instituciones se convierte en el operador logístico.

Debido a la venta ilegal de alimentos que afecta al país, los bachaqueros (personas que compran y revenden productos) tienen ahora como blanco a productores y comerciantes que desde el campo trasladan alimentos a las ciudades, y ahora son atacados en las autopistas para quitarles la comida.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension 'Spudbug' Newsletter, it is shaping up to be a Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) year in the Red River Valley.

Potato breeders at Oregon State University are working to identify the gene that makes certain potatoes resistant to nematodes, which could then be used to create new varieties.

Un juez federal de México prohibió el ingreso al país de papa fresca de Estados Unidos ante la posibilidad de que los plaguicidas utilizados en su cultivo generen daños al medio ambiente, a la biodiversidad o a la población.

David Thompson, President and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) announced today the retirement of Albert Wada, after an eight year term as active member the Board of Directors. Three new international advisers were newly appointed to the Board.

Maine potato farmers have wrapped up planting and are hoping for a good year.

A landmark Senate agreement on national disclosure standards for genetically engineered foods would allow companies to disclose GMO ingredients through digital codes rather than on-package langcode or symbols.

Representantes de 17 países latinoamericanos participaron esta semana en Lima en el XI Taller de seguimiento técnico de proyectos del Fondo Regional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (Fontagro), mecanismo para la innovación de la agricultura familiar en la región.