News on Food Trends from Northern America

Two potato farmers from Prince Edward Island (Canada) that were convicted of planting potatoes on a slope that was too steep were granted a partial victory from the P.E.I. Court of Appeal.

Researchers discovered that in a wild variety of potato (Solanum Microdontum) Calcium levels are about seven times higher than in a regular potato. They developed a molecular marker to facilitate the transfer of the high Calcium trait to newly bred potato varieties.

BCfresh, a British Columbia-based provider of locally-grown vegetables, announced the introduction of Farmer’s Keepers™ Potatoes. Farmer’s Keepers™ Potatoes come in a variety of non-uniform shapes and sizes with minor blemishes or minor mechanical damage.

Sources say the 2016 Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative contract will include new langcode mandating a minimum of two years of alternate crops between potatoes.

World Potato Congress Inc. announced today appointments to the WPC Board of Directors and International Advisory Committee.

The National Restaurant Association projects that restaurants in 2016 will post sales of $782.7 billion and employ 14.4 million people in more than 1 million locations.

Boulder Canyon Authentic Foods introduces a new better-for-you line of ready-to-eat popcorn: Real Thin™ Pop.

U.S. children are not consuming enough vegetables, resulting in an inadequate intake of key nutrients, including potassium and dietary fiber, which are important for growth, development and overall health.

Idaho® potatoes are a significant source of potassium - an essential nutrient that many Americans do not get enough of on a daily basis.

February is Potato Lovers Month in Canada, and Prince Edward Island potato growers are celebrating by offering consumers a chance to win a potato-packed trip to Prince Edward Island!

Okray Family Farms in Plover, Wisconsin, were named the recipients of the prestigious 2015 Environmental Stewardship Award during the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2016 Annual Meeting, held January 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Market research company IRI highlights the foods that see a sales lift before the Superbowl. Salty snacks constitute the leading category by units.

Casual dining chain Red Robin Gourmet Burger and Brews introduces taste bud-tingling Voodoo Fries that will leave guests spellbound!

Cargill Texturizing Solutions is offering manufacturers a successful replacement for monoglycerides, which are sometimes made from PHO

ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE:CAG) announced today the completion of the sale of its private label operations to TreeHouse Foods for proceeds of $2.7 billion in cash, excluding transaction-related expenses and subject to post-closing adjustments.

A meeting date of February 26, 2016 is set for the vote of the stockholders of Diamond and Snyder's-Lance to vote on approving the recently announced acquisition of Diamond Foods by Snyder's-Lance, Inc.
Snyder's-Lance also announced estimated preliminary unaudited net sales for the full year of $1.66 billion

Idaho State University researchers have found high-tech cameras mounted on drones flying 60 meters above potato fields can effectively detect individual diseased and stressed plants.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) unveiled its first Spud Nation™ Food Truck at POTATO EXPO 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is an entirely new, proactive and aggressive demand-building approach for potatoes.