News on The Potato Supply Chain from the United States

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.

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.

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.

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.

The value of all U.S. potato exports reached $1,755,544,515 for the recently completed July 2013 – June 2014 marketing year. This is an expanded version of an earlier publication.

The National Potato Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Holton as the Director of Corporate and Public Relations.

During the week of August 26, the National Potato Council (NPC) led a delegation of 19 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff on a crop tour of New Jersey’s potato growing region.

Showing its support for one of the most popular fundraisers ever, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck nominated the Florida Department of Citrus, Washington Apples, and Georgia Peaches to accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Continued wet August weather has caused late blight infections to proliferate throughout Eastern Idaho, according to University of Idaho Extension potato pathologist Phil Nolte.

The value of all U.S. potato exports was $1,755,544,515 for the recently completed July 2013 – June 2014 marketing year. This is a 7% increase over the previous record set in 2012/13.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) is pleased to announce Kim Breshears has joined its staff as Marketing Programs Director in the Denver office. She started her new role August 18, 2014.

The National Potato Council (NPC) is pleased to award Washington Luis da Silva, a plant pathology Ph.D. student at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., its 2014-15 Academic Scholarship.

The Potato Association of America’s new president says the organization aims to provide the industry with the best research and information available. Andy Jensen took over as president of the research organization in July.

Potandon Produce is stepping up to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and make a donation to the ALS Association. Steve Ottum, COO at Potandon threw down the gauntlet.