News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

December 19, 2012

US Potato Processors used less potatoes than last year

United States Potato Processors used less potatoes so far this season, compared to the same period last year. The amount of potatoes in stock at December 1, 2012, was up 11 percent compared with last year.

December 19, 2012

National Potato Board Appointments announced by US Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 30 members to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board. Each member will serve a three-year term of office beginning March 1, 2013.

December 18, 2012

Dramatic increase in US Frozen Potato Exports to USPB Target Markets

United States exports of frozen potato products to all markets grew 11% by volume and 16% by value for the first quarter (July-September) of MY2012/13.

December 18, 2012

Gregg Halverson Receives Honorary Doctorate from North Dakota State University

North Dakota State University (NDSU) alumnus Gregg Halverson has received an honorary doctorate during winter commencement ceremonies Friday December 14 in Fargo. An honorary degree recognizes an individual associated with the state of North Dakota wh...

December 16, 2012

USDA changes school lunch requirements

Under pressure from lawmakers, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has changed its school lunch requirements to allow more meats and grains. Several farm-state senators from both parties had been pushing USDA to change its school lunch requirements...

Sagar Sathuvalli will serve as head of Oregon State University's potato breeding program.

December 12, 2012

New Potato Breeder hired at the Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center

Oregon State University once again has a plant breeder leading its potato development efforts after filling a position that was vacant for nearly two years: Sagar Sathuvalli.

December 12, 2012

Alsum Farms & Produce Donating 40 Metric Tons Of Seed Potatoes To African Farmers

In January 2012, Larry Alsum, President and CEO of Alsum Farms &Produce Inc., and Derrick Smit, Safety and Training Coordinator at Alsum, spent two weeks in Liberia and Ghana working alongside local farmers, sharing their years of experience in sus...

December 10, 2012

Heather Moyse to continue as Brand Ambassador for Prince Edward Island Potatoes

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is proud to announce that Heather Moyse, an Olympic Gold Medalist hailing from Prince Edward Island, will be continuing in her role as Brand Ambassador for Prince Edward Island Potatoes.

December 10, 2012

Cavendish Farms to buy Maple Leaf Potatoes

Cavendish Farms announced today it had concluded an agreement to buy the assets of Maple Leaf Potatoes, the frozen potato business of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., including a 142,000 sq. ft. processing facility in Lethbridge, Alberta.

December 07, 2012

Simplot acquires Migl Feed and Grain

Migl Feed and Grain, an agricultural supply company located in Hallettsville, Texas, will join the J. R. Simplot Company's Grower Solutions network. "Our goal at Simplot Grower Solutions is to continue to grow our business by expanding our reach...

December 05, 2012

Maine Potato Board selects Young Farmer of the Year

The Maine Potato Board is pleased to announce the selection of the 2013 Young Farmer of the Year - Shawn Doyen of Willard C. Doyen &Sons Farm. Doyen lives in Mapleton with his wife Christi and their two children, Taylor, 7 and Charles, 3 Growing u...

Robert D. Davidson Professor Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture

November 28, 2012

Seed Potato Certification Webcast Featured in ‘Focus on Potato’

Potato plants can carry various diseases, and many of the most difficult ones to control are passed on through seed potato tubers. Therefore, seed potato certification is a vital step in the process to protect potato crops. In the latest ‘Focus on Po...

November 21, 2012

Prince Edward Island potato industry to focus on research

The chair of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board, Gary Linkletter, said growers on PEI have not been getting the net returns that other growers across the country have been getting for their crop.

November 20, 2012

Potato Recipe Contest winner announced by Idaho Potato Commission

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) awarded a $250 cash prize to Zoe Lowinfell Cauvel of Twin Falls, Idaho for her delectable photo of Idaho® Potato “Nachos” in the IPC’s Recipe Photo Contest.

World's largest potato display at chucks produce

November 11, 2012

New record setting potato display in Washington State

The Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) is excited to announce that a new record setting display of potatoes will be on exhibit beginning November 11, 2012 at Chuck’s Produce and Street Market in Vancouver, WA. The display consists of 133,000 ...

November 07, 2012

No GM Food labeling in California: Proposition 37 voted down

California voters have decided they can live without labels on genetically modified food. This means the state will not be at odds with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s policy of not labelling GM foods, which goes back more than two decade...

November 06, 2012

USDA makes first purchase of dehydrated granules for a US global feeding program

On October 24, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the purchase of 240 metric tons of dehydrated potato granules and 320 metric tons of dehydrated potato flakes under the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Pro...