Potato News

Potatoes may have altered ancient people’s genomes, researchers say

As the ancient Andean people turned wild tubers into the domesticated potato, the potato may have altered the genomes of the Andeans who made it a staple of their diet, according to new research. Potatoes, native to South America, became an agricultural crop thousands of years ago in the Andean highlands of Peru. Now, researchers have used DNA analysis to show that the ancient populations of the Peruvian highlands adapted to the introduction of agriculture and an extreme environment in ways distinct from other global populations.
11/13/2018

An app to smartly identify plant pests and diseases

Modern technology put to practical use for potato growers: A smartphone app (now also available online) developed by The James Hutton Institute in Scotland can help with disease identification in the field.
11/13/2018

Scientists discover new virus infecting potatoes

A new species of the genus Potyvirus infecting potatoes was discovered by scientists working at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) in Edinburgh. In a recent scientific paper they are proposing the name “Potato yellow blotch virus” (PYBV) to identify the virus in future. It was discovered in a potato breeding line.
11/12/2018

New faces at Potatoes New Zealand

Potatoes New Zealand is the official organization representing potato growers’ interests in that country. Chris Claridge functions as Chief Executive of the organization. Earlier this year, he announced that two new staff members joined Potatoes New Zealand: Iain Kirkwood and Gemma Carroll.
11/12/2018

British crisp and chip prices going up due to potato crop shortage

A shortage of potatoes across Europe is pushing up the cost of crisps and chips for British shoppers. The low supply has affected supermarkets, which are cutting back on discounts on multi-packs to make sure they don’t run out of stock.
11/12/2018

Soaring cost of potatoes heaps pressure on food processors

Food suppliers and processors in Northern Ireland could be heading for a clash with supermarkets over the soaring cost of potatoes. One food processing firm told Business Telegraph the cost of buying potatoes to make its products had increased from £120 per tonne in 2017 to almost £300 per tonne this month.
11/11/2018

Wisconsin potato crop facing 12 percent decline after wet year

It’s been a wet year for many parts of the eastern United States, where numerous regions are approaching record precipitation numbers. One state that’s experienced a much higher-than-normal amount of snow and rainfall is Wisconsin, the third-largest potato-producing state after Idaho and Washington. Tamas Houlihan, executive director of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, said the effects have been felt.
11/11/2018

Belgium summons reinforcements in Colombia chip war

Belgium, self-proclaimed inventor of the French fry or chip, urged Europe on Friday to help it fight a tariff slapped on its iconic export by Colombia. Colombia accuses Belgian, Dutch and German agribusiness of dumping cheap chips on its market and undercutting struggling local producers.
11/10/2018

PepsiCo launches bid for Pipers Crisps

By launching a bid to acquire Lincolnshire crisp company Pipers Crisps, PepsiCo is currently taking another step into the UK snack market. The PepsiCo company already owns Leicester-based Walkers Crisps and American firm Doritos and wants to grow Pipers in the UK. The international food and drink company’s bid is subject to approval by the Competition and Markets Authority.
11/8/2018

Threat to Scottish seed potatoes

Scottish Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon this week wrote to Defra Secretary of State Michael Gove to highlight the threat to this Scottish seed potato export posed by the replacement of full single market access rights with ‘third country’ status. Conversely, Ms Gougeon noted that the ware potato industry, which is of particular importance to other parts of the UK, had been given Defra’s go-ahead to keep importing seed potatoes from the EU.
11/7/2018

Specialty potato brand in the US launches new campaign

Tasteful Selections, a specialty potato brand from RPE Inc. in the US launched the fourth quarter of its yearlong “Fresh Campaign” on November 5. The campaign aims to provide insights and inspiration revolving around healthy, nutritious recipes and kitchen tips for more confident meal preparation, the company says. “Tasteful Selections’ best-quality “bite-size” potatoes transform everyday meals into family favorites by adding nutrition, versatility and variety,” said Tim Huffcutt, marketing director for RPE, exclusive marketer of Tasteful Selections www.tastefulselections.com
11/7/2018

Potato crisis in Cyprus

Lack of rainfall and high temperatures have taken a toll on the production of potatoes in the north of Cyprus and subsequent shortages in supply have led to soaring prices, Turkish Cypriot media reported on Tuesday. Daily Yeni Duzen referred to a ‘potato crisis’. Due to soaring prices in the market and the low production of potatoes this year, it said, many producers started harvesting non-mature potatoes to meet demand. Prices however, the report says, remain high.
11/7/2018

Ireland: Summer heatwave blamed for 25pc drop in potato crop

Consumers can expect the humble spud to possibly double in price over the next year according to suppliers, as the hot weather this summer means the crop is down 25pc in Ireland this year. While the country basked in sunshine and heatwave conditions throughout the summer months, the potato crop became dormant in the soil as it was too hot and dry for the potato to grow.
11/6/2018

Potato pink eye disorder re-named

In a recent article published in Spud Smart magazine in Canada, potato specialist Dr Eugenia Banks points out that Ed Lulai, a potato physiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been researching the causes of pink eye and has just published his results. He suggests replacing the name pink eye with “Periderm Disorder Syndrome” (PDS).
11/5/2018

Vlaamse Frites: The best fries in the world?

Some cities are meant for walking. Everything worth seeing should be discovered on foot, which means plenty of exercise while on holiday, and plenty of fresh air for lungs used to recycled fumes from central air conditioning. It does make sitting down for a good meal a bit of a challenge, especially in places like Tokyo where eating and walking is generally frowned upon. Not so the case with Amsterdam...
11/5/2018

Australia: Spudshed empire grows profits by 76%

Tony’s Galati’s growing Spudshed empire increased its profit by 76 per cent to nearly $4 million over the past year, despite pressure on margins fuelled partly by rising competition from international players. Spudshed entity Vegie Bandits’ $3.96 million net profit for fiscal 2018, up from $2.25 million a year earlier.
11/4/2018

Cavendish Farms president urges Prince Edward Island govt to double potato farm land limits

The president of Cavendish Farms is warning that the future of potato farming on Prince Edward Island could be at risk due to provincial restrictions on land ownership. During a meeting of the province’s standing committee on communities, land and environment, Robert Irving brought attention to the declining numbers of potato farms on the Island. Since 1997, the number of potato farms has declined from 460 to 186.
11/3/2018

Guide: How to sample soil for potato cyst nematodes

Potato cyst nematode costs the British potato industry more than £25m each year and accurate soil testing is a critical aid in managing the pest to minimise crop losses. At low levels of infestation, crops show no symptoms and the danger is that populations could thrive, reaching levels that can be difficult to manage.
11/3/2018

Chip crisis in Britain: Sweet potato chips replacing chunky chips in bars, restaurants

Chunky chips are off the menu at many bars, restaurants and traditional fish and chip shops in Britain after the hot summer caused a smaller potato crop. The vegetables are much smaller than usual this year, meaning chips are smaller, prices are going up and in some cases sweet potatoes are being used instead.
11/2/2018

Two potato farmers create UK’s first compostable crisp packet

Two Farmers, a new UK-based crisp brand, aims to redefine the snack sector with the launch of its artisan range of crisps in 100% compostable packaging. Potato farmers Sean Mason and Mark Green, from Herefordshire, have beaten the 2025 deadline for compostable packets set by potato snack giant Walkers, who recently faced a backlash over its non-recyclable packaging.
11/1/2018

US potato export industry hampered by trade barriers

The National Potato Council (NPC) in the US recently issued a report titled “2019 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers”. The report came in response to a request from the Office of the Trade Representative. In the report, the NPC says that frozen fries are the industry’s primary export product, although fresh, seed and dehydrated potatoes are also exported in increasing numbers.
11/1/2018

North Korea wants to bring about a “revolution in potato farming”

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has visited the Samjiyon Potato Farina Production Factory for the second time this year, after a visit in July, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday.
10/31/2018

Convenience trend: New potato product line ready to “heat and eat”

A new potato line, the Perfect Potato™, is now available in the US from Robinson Fresh® and Albert Bartlett. This product line is said to answer a consumer demand for a flavorful staple with convenient packaging that requires no prep work and is ready to heat and eat.
10/31/2018

NPC on global potato trade barriers

The National Potato Council (NPC) in the US recently filed public comments that identified trade impediments impacting the potato industry in export markets around the world. The comments come in response to a request from the Office of the Trade Representative. NPC submitted a report for each country in which trade barriers exist.
10/30/2018

Cancer-risk study looks at value of organic food consumption

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine online suggests eating organic food could lower the risk of cancer. In the study authors said a population-based cohort study of 68,946 French adults found a significant reduction in the risk of cancer was observed among high consumers of organic food.
10/30/2018

Expert opinion on challenges facing potato processing industry

As TOMRA ships its 200th steam peeler from a state of the art processing facility in Slovakia, the company’s Market Manager Peeling, Eamonn Cullen, take a look at the impact steam peeling has on profitability and waste reduction in the potato processing industry.
10/30/2018

New study: The key to human evolution may be… potatoes?

Science has finally gotten behind everyone’s favourite root vegetable. New research conducted by the University of Sydney has linked a certain gene with starch digestion, metabolism, gut microbiome, methane production and, ultimately, increase in brain size during human evolution. This research brings us a step closer to justifying fries as an evolutionary advantage.
10/29/2018

Idaho growers expect strong quality

The Idaho fresh potato crop features strong quality and a mix of sizes for 2018, with russet norkotahs tending toward larger sizes and russet burbanks showing a mix of sizes. Industry leaders reported increased acreage for processing but reduced acreage for fresh market potatoes.
10/28/2018

Canada: Common scab complexities

You need to know your enemy if you want to fight it, says Martin Filion, an associate professor at the Université de Moncton in Canada. “Genetic diversity of a pathogen means differences in functions the pathogen might have,” he says. “For instance, different species or strains might have different responses to chemicals or agricultural practices you are using to manage the disease.”
10/28/2018

Ireland: ‘Trying year’ for potatoes

Reduced areas planted and reduced yields have led to what look like tightened supplies of potatoes this year – though it is too early to call for sure, according to Teagasc tillage crop and potato specialist Shay Phelan.
10/28/2018

Canada: Cold, wet weather a challenge for Prince Edward Island potato farmers

The cold, wet October weather on Prince Edward Island on the east coast of Canada is making for a difficult potato harvest. “This year’s harvest is probably one of the tougher ones,” said Darryl Wallace, chair of the P.E.I. Potato Board. Potatoes don’t store well when they come out of the ground wet, Wallace said.
10/25/2018

Japan’s Calbee admits mistake in Philippine JV partner

Japanese snack producer Calbee admitted that it made a mistake in choosing rival Universal Robina as partner for its failed Philippines potato chip joint venture, but said it would now focus on Indonesia and China to build on its presence in the region.
10/25/2018

Can Lamb Weston stock keep beating the market?

The stock of Lamb Weston Holdings, one of the world’s largest potato processors, recently hit a new 52-week high after its fiscal 2019 first-quarter earnings report surpassed analyst expectations. Revenue rose 12% to $915 million, driving net earnings 29% higher to $107.8 million. Those growth rates look solid, but can the stock run higher still?
10/22/2018

Potatoes USA showcases potato ingredient functionality

Food manufacturers are in search of functional, clean-label ingredients that deliver both improved product experience (taste, texture, color, freshness) as well as nutritional benefits. Over one hundred research and development chefs and product formulators gathered at the 11th annual Food Evolution Summit, held in San Diego September 24-26.
10/21/2018

President of World Potato Congress Inc to present on satellites and potatoes

During the past few years, a true revolution has taken place in the satellite business, according to Romain Cools, the President / CEO of the World Potato Congress Inc and Secretary General of Europatat in Belgium. Hundreds of Earth Observation satellites have been launched and are in orbit today, taking pictures of our planet on a daily – sometimes hourly.
10/20/2018

Summer drought to shrink supplies of French spuds

It’s harvest time and the chips are down for potato producers in northern France where a long summer drought could see French spuds shrink in size and volume. The potatoes “first lacked water and then when rain fell in July started growing anew” which means the original plants lost starch and gained too much water, spoiling them, said Regis Dumont, a potato farmer from Warhem near the Belgian border.
10/20/2018

The potato croquette that is taking Japan by storm

“Korokke” (potato croquette) is a rather common home cooked dish in Japan. One brand of the croquet that is nowadays becoming very popular in Japan, is the ‘Mishima Croquet’, made from the Mishima Breisho (Breisho translates to potato in Japanese). More from Mariko Kihira in Japan.
10/18/2018

New members appointed to Idaho Potato Commission

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter appointed Brett Jensen and Todd Cornelison to the Idaho Potato Commission, effective at the nine-member panel’s Oct. 24 meeting. Otter also reappointed Dan Nakamura. Jensen succeeds James Hoff as a grower-member. Cornelison succeeds Lynn Wilcox as a fresh-pack shipper. Hoff completed one three-year term, Wilcox two.
10/18/2018

New potato harvester from Dewulf

Potato- and root crop manufacturer Dewulf says it has now launched the RA3060 Essential, a standard configuration of its acclaimed self-propelled 2-row sieving harvester. in a press release the company says “This variant of the R3060 is being produced in celebration of the 30th anniversary of this machine. The manufacturer has combined decades of experience building the R3060 with feedback from growers to develop a unique, universal standard configuration.”
10/18/2018

British potato farmers feel the heat of variable weather

As extreme weather events increase in frequency, Sara Maslowski, senior analyst at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) for potatoes, reviews how this year’s weather conditions have affected the potato crop and prices when compared with a more ‘typical’ growing season.
10/16/2018

A shortage of beer and fries? Climate change hits Europe where it hurts

Climate change has fueled raging wildfires around the world, bleached coral reefs and intensified hurricanes — and now it’s coming for Europe’s fries. A hot and dry summer has caused low potato yields in Belgium and across Europe, resulting in sad, stubby fries or “frites” — up to an entire inch shorter than the 3-inch norm. The news gets worse...
10/16/2018

Cold, wet weather threatens potato crop in Red River Valley

With low temperatures from last week expected to linger into this week, harvest is not looking good for potato farmers, experts say. About 20 percent of the fresh crop still is in the ground in the Red River Valley, said Ted Kreis, spokesman for the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association. “We could easily lose 100 percent of what’s still in the ground,” Kreis said.
10/15/2018

Potato growers in Canadian Prairies cautiously optimistic

This year has been a difficult one for potato producers in the Portage region in Canada’s Manitoba province. Shifting weather extremes have made both growing and harvesting difficult at times. Recent bouts of frost have producers concerned for their crops still in the ground.
10/15/2018

Inspiring: The man who became a millionaire selling potato peelers

Joe Ades was a street peddlar who became a millionaire selling potato peelers in New York city. He was born in Manchester, England and grew up in war torn Britain during the second World War, the youngest of 7 children. After moving to the US as a youngster, started selling $5 potato peelers on street corners in NYC for 60 years, even for long after becoming a millionaire doing that.
10/14/2018

Baby potato supplier announces full re-brand

Tasteful Selections, in partnership with RPE Inc., has announced a comprehensive rebrand of its full line of bite-size potatoes to better align its market-leading position with organizational core values while responding to customer and consumer expectations. The US company has been supplying the bite-size potatoes since 2010.
10/14/2018

US-Canada trade: US potato growers want “ministerial exemptions” addressed

Although North American leaders have announced they reached a new trade agreement to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, North Dakota industries say there’s still much the pact has left to address. The new deal is referred to as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Some wheat growers, in conjunction with fresh potato growers and steel companies, say the deal isn’t enough.
10/14/2018

Study: Precision farming a trend that keeps global innovation execs up at night

Lux Research is a provider of market intelligence solutions, helping global companies identify the tech innovation opportunities that drive growth. In a recent article, the company lists the “top innovation questions your peers are asking about in 2018”.
10/14/2018

Greenvale’s parent company sees operating profit fall

Produce Investments, known for its Greenvale business in Scotland, has reportedly been blighted by a massive over-supply of potatoes which have dented group profits. The company posted revenues of £188 million, with operating profit of £6.1 million, down from £7.8 million. Promethean Investments LLP is currently in the process of buying Produce Investments.
10/12/2018

Tesco clamps down on food waste

Potatoes were on the list when Tesco announced in May of this year to remove “best before” dates from almost 70 fruit and vegetable products in an effort to reduce the amount of usable food being thrown away. Now the supermarket is set to remove the labels on a further 116 items of produce – including own-brand apples, oranges, cabbages and asparagus.
10/12/2018

Washington state secures funding for potato research, including on potato psyllid

The USDA, through their Specialty Crop Block Grants program, awarded over $600,000 to support three potato research projects to Washington state researchers. Rodney Cooper, of the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Wapato, was awarded $215,538 for a project entitled “Gut Content Analysis to Pinpoint the Weed Sources of Potato Psyllid.”
10/12/2018