News on The Potato Supply Chain from the United States

February 27, 2013

Idaho Potato Growers to vote on McCain, Simplot contracts

Idaho potato growers will vote Monday in Burley on contracts with McCain Foods and J.R. Simplot Co. paying a 1.6 percent average increase, according to sources involved in negotiations.

February 26, 2013

Lance Hapka appointed chairman of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association

Lance Hapka, a process potato grower from Argyle, Minnesota became the 64th Chairman of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association at NPPGA's annual meeting last Tuesday.

February 26, 2013

Basic American Foods to buy dehydrated potato unit from Nonpareil Farms

Idaho-based Nonpareil Farms has signed a letter of intent to sell its dehydrated potato business to Basic American Foods, corporate officials announced Monday.

February 25, 2013

Spud City Sales owner charged with not paying for potato shipments

The owner of potato brokerage firm Spud city sales will make an initial appearance in Portage County Circuit Court today on charges of not paying farmers for shipments of potatoes.

February 21, 2013

Florida potato crop escapes major damage

Earlier this week we reported on the frost affecting potato growers in Florida. According to a more recent article in the Packer, Florida grower-shippers for the most part escaped serious damage

February 21, 2013

Registration Open for Co-located PROCESS EXPO and International Dairy Show

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) have announced that registration is now open for the co-located PROCESS EXPO and the International Dairy Show, taking place November 3-6, 2013 in Chic...

February 20, 2013

GMO Labeling Bill Introduced in US Congress

Today Colorado’s Jared Polis will announce, outside a reborn organic retail store in Boulder, that he is introducing a federal bill in Congress to mandate the labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms in all 50 states.

Late blight (Phytophthora Infestans) on potato leaf

February 19, 2013

University of Maine looking for blight-resistant potatoes

Potato breeding developments being researched by graduate students in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences of the University of Maine look to save the future of Maine’s iconic crop.

February 19, 2013

Florida potato fields take hit with recent freeze

Some of Florida's potato crops (Hastings and East Palatka) took a hit when freezing temperatures moved through the area Sunday night and Monday morning.

February 14, 2013

Key Technology unveils its Product Definer - a hyperspectral imaging spectrometer for product analysis

Key Technology unveils its new Product Definer, a state-of-the-art instrument, located in its customer visitor center. This proprietary hyperspectral imaging spectrometer helps Key quickly analyze and evaluate new applications and technologies.

February 12, 2013

Early Generation Seed Potato Production Discussed in Latest ‘Focus on Potato’ Webcast

Successful early generation seed production depends on very close monitoring for pests, diseases, and variety mixtures. The latest ‘Focus on Potato’ presentation, titled: ‘Early Generation Seed Potato Production’ by Dr. Amy Charkowski, Associate Prof...

February 11, 2013

Heart Smart Potato Recipe Contest launched by the Idaho Potato Commission

In celebration of American Heart Month, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) launched the Heart Smart Recipe Contest with fitness guru Denise Austin and the popular Mr. Food Test Kitchen.

February 11, 2013

EPA Registration for SmartBlock® Sprout inhibitor of American Vanguard

American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, AMVAC Chemical Corporation (AMVAC), has received registration from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for SmartBlock®, a novel potato sprout inhibitor.

February 08, 2013

Late blight pathogen blocks RNA silencing pathways of potato plants

When a pathogen attacks a plant, infection usually follows after the plant’s immune system is compromised. A team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside focused on Phytophthora and deciphered how it succeeded in crippling the potato...

February 07, 2013

Potato Production costs increase in Idaho in 2013 expected to be modest

Idaho potato farmers should see more moderate increases in production costs in 2013 than they've experienced in recent years, University of Idaho Extension economist Paul Patterson predicts.

February 07, 2013

Genetic modification likely for potatoes, researcher says

A University of Idaho researcher says he's optimistic efforts to develop genetically modified potatoes will resurface.

February 06, 2013

DuPont launches smart pest management tool

DuPont™ Evalio AgroSystems services is a free pest monitoring tool that helps detect insect pests. Growers using the system are provided with real-time in-season information that helps them choose the most appropriate product and spray timing to achiev...

January 18, 2013

Oregon’s Nels Iverson Elected to NPC’s Executive Committee

At the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2013 Annual Meeting, held January 11-12, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nels Iverson of Jefferson, Ore., was elected to serve as NPC’s vice president of the council’s Finance and Office Procedures Committee.