News on The Potato Supply Chain from Northern America

October 16, 2011

El Congreso de los Estados Unidos aprueba el TLC con Colombia, Panamá y Corea del Sur

El Congreso reinsertó el miércoles a Estados Unidos en el camino de la liberalización comercial con la aprobación de los largamente esperados tratados de libre comercio con Colombia, Panamá y Corea del Sur en medio de augurios de que los acuerdos ayuda...

October 16, 2011

Idaho Potato Commission's Foodservice Ad Campaign Receives Produce Marketing Excellence Award

Project Reinvent, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) popular foodservice advertising campaign, was the recipient of Produce Business’ 23rd Annual Marketing Excellence Award. It was one of 20 campaigns recognized by the magazine. Project Reinvent was ...

October 14, 2011

Manitoba Potato Harvest wrapping up

Potato harvest in Manitoba is virtually complete. "There may be a few people still picking their last spots, but for all intents and purposes it's done,"says Gary Sloik of Keystone Potato Producers. "Things went quite well. The southern...

October 13, 2011

Klamath Basin Fresh Direct introduces fingerling potato Amarosa

Klamath Basin Fresh Direct, a cooperative of family farms specializing in high-quality organic potatoes, has recently come out with a new variety called the Amarosa. Hollis Baley, Marketing Manager at Klamath Basin Fresh Direct, describes the new fing...

October 13, 2011

US Congress approves trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama

Ending a long stalemate, US Congress approved three new trade agreements Wednesday evening, signing off on deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama in an attempt to increase U.S. exports and create thousands of jobs. Among the potential winners are...

October 12, 2011

Deadline for World Potato Congress Industry Awards Nominations approaching

World Potato Congress Inc. General Manager, John Coady, stated recently that, “We are fast approaching the deadline for submission of nominees for the internationally respected WPC Industry Awards.” To insure that deserving individuals are recognized,...

October 12, 2011

Idaho Potato Prices are half of last season

Last year's potato prices in Idaho hit record highs, but left people with a fear that this year's crop would see a big price drop, and it did. The prices are definitely a lot lower than last year, but it would have been incredibly hard to match those ...

October 12, 2011

Pesticide from potato farm sickens driver, neighbor.

Two people were sickened this morning by a pesticide being used at a potato farm off Route 5 in the Town of Batavia, Genesee County officials said. Shortly before 8 a.m., a truck driver delivering materials to a business at 2975 Route 5 began sufferin...

October 11, 2011

Prince Edward Island Potatoes Will Power Olympic Gold Medalist Heather Moyse

Heather Moyse, Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Bobsleigh and native of Summerside, PEI, has embarked on a pursuit of excellence to represent Canada at the elite level in a third national sport. PEI Potatoes will accompany her on this journey. Currentl...

October 11, 2011

One potato, two potato ... All about growing 55 disease-free potatoes and more

Whether mashed, hashed, baked, boiled, fried or dried, potatoes are the leading vegetable crop in the United States. Now, two Cornell faculty members -- and one of their dads -- have joined forces to publish 'The Complete Potato Grower's Guide: What Every Grower and Gardener Needs to Know

October 11, 2011

Demand for red potatoes remains strong

Although Red River Valley’s red potatoes are still viewed as a specialty item, demand is strong and grower-shippers expect it to remain so. The Packer’s 2011 Fresh Trends reported that 16% of consumers surveyed preferred to purchase red potatoes, whil...

October 11, 2011

Zebra Chip Finds Its Way to Idaho’s Potato Fields

A potato pest from points south has reached Idaho, University of Idaho Extension specialists with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences confirmed this week. It was reported last month in Oregon and Washington.

October 09, 2011

Idaho Potato Commission and USPB reach agreement on Potatoes: Goodness Unearthed logo

The Idaho Potato Commission and the U.S. Potato Board announce Oct. 7 that an agreement has been reached to resolve the areas of concern regarding the board's "Potatoes: Goodness Unearthed"nutritional signature and retail program. The agreeme...

October 07, 2011

University of Alaska pursuing first plant patent for potato variety

Golden birch trees marked the edge of Greg Kalal's fields, but the dentist-turned-farmer was more interested in hues beneath the soil on his land south of Mount McKinley. Among the thousands of colorful potatoes — from yellow German Butterballs to Mag...

October 06, 2011

Lawyer for jailed farmer says banks, companies will work on plan to save farm

A lawyer for a New Brunswick potato farmer jailed in Lebanon, Henk Tepper, has until the end of the month to present a plan to keep his client's farming businesses afloat and pay off creditors.

October 06, 2011

Weather wreaking havoc for Prince Edward Island potato growers

Potato farmers on P.E.I. are worried about their fields after record rainfall in many parts of the province Wednesday followed by some hail and snow Thursday. There was plenty of harvesting equipment sitting in fields across P.E.I. waiting for the lan...

October 05, 2011

NPC event intensifies pro-potato pressure

Doris Demers, the nutrition program director for York and Kittery schools, had a blunt response today when asked about proposed federal guidelines limiting white potato servings as part of the federally funded school lunch program. "It's ridiculo...

October 04, 2011

Scientists look for source of Alaska potato blight

Potato late blight, that same disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine, resurfaced in Alaska this fall. This wasn’t the first time the disease, widespread in the Lower 48 and worldwide, came to Alaska. Plant pathologist Jenifer McBeath suspects it...