News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

March 02, 2010

Tasteful Selections introduces line of specialty potatoes

Tasteful Selections LLC introduces a line of specialty potatoes. Products include fingerling potatoes, small potatoes in red, white, yellow and purple varieties and in sizes ranging from marble and peewee to standard B and C. Tasteful Selections pl...

March 02, 2010

Keystone Potato Products looking at solar photovoltaic to cut electricity costs

Keith Masser, a seventh generation potato farmer, is no dummy. A graduate of Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, Masser always has his eye on the bottom line.

February 27, 2010

Foodbanks benefit from Idaho Potato surplus

Food banks, charities and hungry people in Idaho are benefiting from a Idaho's surplus of potatoes.J.R. Simplot Co. donated 35,000 pounds of spuds Feb. 16 to the Idaho Foodbank and the Boise Rescue Mission."This is a tremendous donation,"he s...

February 26, 2010

Cavendish Farms cuts 20 potato farmers

P.E.I.'s farming industry was dealt another blow Friday when it was learned that Irving-owned Cavendish Farms was cutting 20 farmers who normally grow for the company. Agriculture Minster George Webster said Irving is cutting smaller growers with po...

February 24, 2010

McCain Foods buys 20 - 30% less PEI potatoes

McCain Foods Ltd. is cutting the volume of potatoes it buys from P.E.I. farmers by 20 to 30 per cent because of falling demand for french fries, Agriculture Minister George Webster said Tuesday. The cut may mean the company based in Florenceville, N....

February 24, 2010

Ag World Support Systems provides inspection services to the potato industry

Warren Hennigar turned his vision of a third party inspection company for the potato processing industry in North America into reality 12 years ago with the creation of Ag World Support Systems. Today, he is CEO of a company with locations in Easton, ...

February 22, 2010

Greg Garrisson selected Maine's young potato farmer of the year

At 43, Gregg Garrison is amused that he’s been targeted as a young and up-and-coming potato farmer.“The new young is 40,” he says, after giving a small chuckle when asked his age. “I probably don’t look the part.”The Maine Potato Board at the end of 20...

Flavored french fries (Idaho Potato Commission)

February 21, 2010

No more 'Would you like fries with that'

It's time to bury that negative fast-food cliché, "Would you like fries with that?" In today's restaurant world, whether it's quick service or full service, operators are finding new ways to present and flavor fries, and customers are eating...

Fredericton Potato Research Centre potato display

February 19, 2010

New Canadian Reds on display at Fredericton Potato Research Centre

On February 17, at the Potato Research Centre in Fredericton, experimental potato selections were unveiled, including a number of red skins. Red skinned potatoes are hot thanks in part to a consumer and restaurant industry trend toward potatoes that ca...

February 17, 2010

US February potato stocks up 5% from 2009

About 193 million cwt. of U.S.-grown potatoes were in storage on Feb. 1, 5% more than last year at the same time, but 3% less than two years ago. About 77 million cwt. of that total are in Idaho sheds, according to the Feb. 17 Potato Stocks report fr...

February 17, 2010

USDA Revision: Potato Stocks Up 11 Percent From February 2009

The 13 major potato States held 203 million cwt of potatoes in storage February 1, 2010, up 11 percent from a year ago and 2 percent above February 1, 2008. Potatoes in storage accounted for 53 percent of the 2009 fall storage States' production, 3 per...

February 17, 2010

North American Potato prices crushed by low demand

About 100 P.E.I. potato growers met with international representatives of the industry Tuesday to hear the market forecast, and there was little in the way of good news. "It is depressing news,"said Cary Hoffman of the United Potato Growers...

February 12, 2010

Bright spots in restaurants' 4Q results

A few encouraging signs emerged this week as several restaurant companies reported fourth-quarter results that reflected improving sales trends. Buffalo Wild Wings Inc., Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and Panera Bread Co., which have performed better ...

Make Allen announcement at Potatoes New Brunswick Conference

February 11, 2010

Government of Canada Helps Potato Farmers Boost Their Bottom Line

The Government of Canada is helping New Brunswick potato farmers capture new markets and increase profitability by investing in a new market information database that will help producers make more informed decisions.

February 10, 2010

Colorado may get Seed Potato Act

Colorado could be getting out of an exclusive club – [US] states that don’t have certified seed laws for commercial potato growers and seed producers – if the General Assembly passes SB 10-72, the Colorado Seed Potato Act.

February 10, 2010

Idaho Potato Commission revamps website

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) recently debuted its newly enhanced Website, which includes innovative as well as improved resources for consumers, retailers, foodservice professionals and industry members."We are proud to be 'spud central' for ...

February 10, 2010

Government of Canada Supporting New Brunswick Potato Farmers

Member of Parliament Mike Allen (Tobique-Mactaquac), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, will be in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, on Thursday, February 11, to make an announcement in support of New Brunswick potato farmers during the Potatoes N...

Obama signs Memorandum on Childhood Obesity

February 09, 2010

Michelle Obama begins fight against childhood obesity

In the State Dining Room at the White House, first lady Michelle Obama rolled out her national initiative to combat childhood obesity Tuesday afternoon with a show of force that included medical, business and government officials, grass-roots activis...