News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

The market for Prince Edward Island potatoes is holding strong despite the recent reports from six Atlantic Canadian locations of needles found in potato shipments from an Island grower.

A multi-state research effort led by Texas A&M AgriLife Research to control the potato psyllid and reduce losses from zebra chip disease of potato will be recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Eric Halverson is the new chief executive officer of potato grower-shipper Black Gold Farms.

Robert Tominaga, president of Heyburn, Idaho-based Southwind Farms, has seen demand for the fingerlings his company grows and other specialties rise dramatically in recent years.

Following the discovery of potato wart on Prince Edward Island (PEI) in August the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notified the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of temporary mitigation efforts by CFIA.

Another potato has been found with a sewing needle inside, the Prince Edward Island RCMP announced yesterday. This is the seventh sewing needle discovered in a potato.

RCMP says metal objects were intentionally placed. Police believe all affected fries at Cavendish Farms did not leave facility.

Potandon Produce LLC will be showcasing two new varieties at the upcoming PMA show, the Klondike Royale, a wonderful yellow fleshed potato and Smiley’s, a petite yellow-fleshed potato with naturally occurring marks on the surface of the skin which resemble smiles.

Growers of the potato variety Lamoka used for chip processing have seen a higher than normal incidence of blackleg in their fields this summer.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is advising consumers of a possible food tampering situation involving potatoes harvested and packed by Linkletter Farms Ltd. of Summerside, PEI.

Through a partnership with Cavendish Farms, the Province of Prince Edward Island is purchasing 96 acres of agricultural land in the Barclay Brook area to help protect Island rivers and fish habitat.

Phosphorous acid based products can be an effective control for postharvest diseases when applying best practices. In the presentation. Learn more in the latest ‘Focus on Potato’ presentation “Phosphorous Acid and its use in Potato Post-Harvest Situations,”

Texas-based MountainKing Potatoes has taken another step toward helping retailers boost impulse sales, reduce in-store labor and compliment ad features with new, high-graphic display units including large bins for high-volume promotions, easy-to-install display wraps and smaller, yet attractive display-ready stack boxes.

The President of the World Potato Congress (WPC) Mr David Thompson and the Chairman of the WPC Industry Awards Committee, Mr Douglas (Doug) Harley, have announced that nominations are now being called for the 2015 World Potato Congress Industry Awards.

In a study published this summer, scientists of the Washington State University found that potato virus S (PVS) breaks down late blight resistance in potato.

Keystone Food Products is pleased to announce that its signature line of snacks, The Real Deal Snacks, has received the Non-GMO Project Verified seal from the Non-GMO Project, an independent verification that assures a product has been produced according to best practices for GMO avoidance.

While weed resistance issues have been grabbing many headlines over the past few years, fungicide resistance has become an increasingly important issue this growing season—and likely for future growing seasons if sound resistance management practices are not adopted.

Canada's private potato breeders are calling for a bigger say in how new varieties are developed in Canada.