News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

April 10, 2012

Website helps predict volunteer potato survival in Michigan

Volunteer potatoes in Michigan are surviving winters in increasing numbers, providing a bridge for late blight from one season to the next.

Papa genéticamente modificada (Fortuna) con resistencia a phytophthora

April 10, 2012

BASF realizará ensayos de campo en Europa con papas genéticamente modificadas

La empresa BASF va a realizar este año, nuevamente, ensayos de campo en Europa con patatas modificadas genéticamente que están en proceso de autorización en la UE. Los ensayos se realizarán en ciertas zonas de Alemania, Suecia y Holanda. Se ensayarán l...

April 09, 2012

Corn acres exceed potatoes in Idaho, but spuds still cash cow

Idaho may always be famous for its potatoes, never to be confused as a Corn Belt state. For the past two years, however, Gem State growers have planted more acres of corn than spuds. That trend will continue in 2012, unless potato growers increase planting from last year by more than 30,000 acres.

April 04, 2012

Prince Edward Island Potato Board launches marketing campaign with Olympic gold medalist Heather Moyse

In effort to raise awareness of the health benefits of potatoes, showcase recipes and boost consumption of the vegetable, the Prince Edward Island Potato Board launched a marketing campaign anchored around PEI-native and Olympic gold medalist Heather M...

April 01, 2012

Idaho Potato Commission renewed Heart Check mark contract

An official with the American Heart Association believes Idaho potato shippers aren't fully tapping the right to use his organization's iconic heart check mark. For a registration fee of $5,000 per variety, the Idaho Potato Commission renewed a 12-mon...

April 01, 2012

Idaho Potato Commission launches new website

Hungry for more information on how to perfect your potato dishes? Consider your cravings satisfied with the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) new website Potato 101, an all-you-can-eat buffet of knowledge on America’s Favorite Vegetable. Contents inclu...

April 01, 2012

Jailed Potato Farmer free and back in Canada

New Brunswick potato farmer Henk Tepper strode through the Ottawa International Airport on Saturday afternoon and into the arms of his wife and two daughters for the first time in more than a year. Tepper returned to Canada after being held in a Leban...

March 31, 2012

Potato Farmer Henk Tepper released from Lebanese jail

A Senator says New Brunswick farmer Henk Tepper has been released from a Lebanese jail after being held for a year on allegations he exported rotten potatoes to Algeria. Senator Pierrette Ringuette says in a statement that Tepper is expected to arrive...

March 30, 2012

Five Potato Varieties planted in White House Kitchen Garden

First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed children from five schools across the country to join her yesterday for the fourth annual spring planting of the White House Kitchen Garden. During the day, the kids planted five varieties of seed potatoes: Sangre, Pu...

March 25, 2012

United States Potato Board Elects New Leadership

The United States Potato Board (USPB) grower membership elected new leadership during its Annual Meeting held in Colorado Springs, CO, March 15-16. The following sections list the leadership for the coming year. The USPB Executive Committee, front...

March 23, 2012

US: Processing crop potatoes influencing fresh market

Jerry Wright, chief executive officer of the United Potato Growers of America, has a message to potato growers going into the 2012-13 season: Proceed with caution.

March 23, 2012

US: Sustainability metrics too tight for every farm

The measurement of sustainability from one farm to the next farm seems almost impossible based on a single set of metrics or a tightly written definition.

March 22, 2012

US: Eye on psyllids

One year, it's the potato tuber worm;another year, it's the beet leafhopper.

March 21, 2012

US Potato Experts Evaluate Potato Cyst Nematode eradication

Idaho potatoes are still at the discussion table five years after a potato cyst nematode outbreak threatened crops in Bonneville and Bingham counties.

March 21, 2012

KORUS-FTA facilitates export of US potato products to South Korea

On March 15, 2012 the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS-FTA) went into force. John Keeling, Executive Vice President and CEO of the National Potato Council (NPC), commented on the impact of this free trade agreement on the US potato Industry: “A...

March 21, 2012

Insecticide Resistance Management addressed in latest Focus on Potato Webcast

Insecticide resistance management is not always on the minds of potato growers when faced with menacing crop pests, but straying from the recommended usage guidelines can eventually make the situation much worse.

March 20, 2012

Andrew Robinson is New Extension Potato Agronomist at North Dakota State University

Andrew Robinson is New Extension Potato Agronomist - The Extension Potato Agronomist position vacated by Nick David in January 2011 has been filled! Idaho native Andrew "Andy"Robinson has been hired. He has a Masters Degree in Agronomy and...

March 20, 2012

Expansion PEI Potato Quality Institute (PQI) facilitates disease testing

The PEI Potato Quality Institute (PQI) has expanded their facility in the West Royalty Industrial Park to offer local potato farmers more efficient disease testing, thanks to investments made by the federal and provincial governments and industry partners.