News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

Cornell University Nematode Laboratory, built in 1937

May 10, 2015

New York Senator launches push to replace Cornell University's outdated nematode lab

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer has urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize the replacement and modernization of the Federal Nematode Quarantine Facility at Cornell University in the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Capitol Investment Strategy for Fiscal Year 2016.

Potato Cyst Nematoe infected plant roots

April 30, 2015

Idaho Potato Farmers file lawsuit over PCN regulation

A group of 18 Idaho Potato farmers that say they have been negatively affected by the Pale Cyst Nematode (PCN) program filed an administrative lawsuit against the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture on Tuesday.

Potato storage (Courtesy: rosesandsagebrush.com)

April 30, 2015

US Potato Stocks Up 9 Percent from April 2014

The 13 major potato States held 130 million cwt of potatoes in storage April 1, 2015, up 9 percent from April 2014.

April 30, 2015

Teenagers’ potassium intake may lower blood pressure in adulthood

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics shows that a diet high in potassium may protect teenagers from high blood pressure in adulthood. Since potatoes are a major dietary source of potassium, the potato sector should take note of this research.

Colorized Scanning Electron Micrograph of Clostridium Botulinum.

April 29, 2015

Improperly Home-canned Potatoes suspected as source of Botulism Outbreak

Ohio Department of Health officials say the likely source of the Lancaster botulism outbreak is home-canned potatoes used in a potato salad.

Fontagro abre convocatoria para propuestas sobre innovaciones para el manejo sostenible de recursos naturales en la agricultura familiar en LAC

April 19, 2015

Fontagro abre convocatoria para propuestas sobre innovaciones para el manejo sostenible de recursos naturales en agricultura familiar de LAC

El Fondo Regional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (FONTAGRO) anuncia la Convocatoria 2015 “Innovaciones para el manejo sostenible de recursos naturales en la agricultura familiar en América Latina y el Caribe”. Recibe propuestas hasta el 5 de junio.

Potato protoplasts expressing green florescence to demonstrate high transformation efficiency.

April 15, 2015

Cellectis reduces cold sweetening in potato by inactivating a single gene

Cellectis Plant Sciences, Inc. has announced today that the Plant Biotechnology Journal has accepted the publication of its peer-reviewed manuscript demonstrating the phenotypic validation of potato lines developed by inactivating a single endogenous gene responsible for sugar accumulation when stored at cold temperatures.

April 12, 2015

Idaho potato growers accept slight price cut in processing contracts

Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative growers have agreed to a contract that slightly reduces potato prices but requires processors to accept at least 90 percent of their 2014 acreages with individual farms.

April 10, 2015

Settlement deadline in 'potato cartel' case extended

Settlement negotiations are apparently ongoing in the federal potato price-fixing case that wholesalers, retailers and consumers filed six years ago against United Potato Growers of America and others.

April 09, 2015

Potandon Produce Bringing Back Display Shipper Program

Potandon Produce LLC announces the return of their highly successful and popular Mini Potato Display Shipper for the 2015 spring/summer selling season.

Caitlin Mueller (left) and Renee O’Brien (right) are appointed as Meeting Planner and Assistant Marketing Manager respectively

April 06, 2015

United States Potato Board announces staff additions

The United States Potato Board (USPB) is pleased to announce Caitlin Mueller as Meeting Planner and Renee O’Brien as Assistant Marketing Manager, effective April 1, 2015.

April 06, 2015

Florida Potato Growers positive on quality of crop

Florida potato growers are packing their heaviest seasonal volume. Demand and movement of Florida potatoes remain strong from mid-March through the end of April

Kevin MacIsaac, United Potato Growers of Canada general manager (Courtesy: Brittany Spencer/CBC)

April 02, 2015

Potato Processors Canada may benefit in 2015 from low Canadian Dollar and West Coast shipping disruptions

A weak Canadian Dollar and shipping disruptions at the Port of Seattle (Washinbgton, US) could increase demand for Canadian potatoes in 2015, says a spokesperson for the United Potato Growers of Canada. 

Price Elasticity varies based on potato variety and packaging size: everyday potatoes and large pack sizes are less elastic (Nielsen Perishables Group Price Elasticity Study 2014)

March 29, 2015

Consumer price sensitivities in the potato category

New research from the United States Potato Board (USPB) reveals the complexity and range of price sensitivities within the potato category.

March 29, 2015

PEI Potato Farm fined for crop rotation violations

A Prince Edward Island (Canada) farm operation has pleaded guilty to failing to properly rotate its potato crop in one of their fields.

March 24, 2015

Wisconsin Spudmobile to Make Appearance at 2015 WPS Farm Show

This week, the Wisconsin Spudmobile - Wisconsin’s traveling billboard - is in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the annual Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Farm Show at the EAA Grounds.

Ship ready to transport PEI potatoes to Russia in 2011 (Courtesy CBC)

March 23, 2015

Prince Edward Island potato exports hit by Russian Sanctions

Tensions between Russia and Canada are having an impact on P.E.I. potato exports.

March 23, 2015

Research: Consumers willing to spend more for biotech potato products

New research from an Iowa State University economist, Wallace Huffman, found consumers were willing to spend more for genetically modified potato products with reduced levels of a chemical compound linked to cancer.