Latest News From Potatoes

Potato LEAF reaches $2 Million Founders Society Goal

The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) has achieved its inaugural fundraising goal of $2 million for 2020. 

Tasteful Selections appreciates the little things

If there is something most can agree on, it is that we all are ready for a new year.

USDA updates pale cyst nematode regulations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating domestic regulations for pale cyst nematode (PCN, Globodera pallida). 

Dietary Guidelines for Americans support potato consumption

It’s official: the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans have yet again confirmed the importance of eating more vegetables such as potatoes that provide potassium and vitamin C.

Potato utilization dips 5% for 2019-20 marketing year
Potato utilization dips 5% for 2019-20 marketing year

A near-double digit gain in potato retail sales wasn’t enough to offset a decline in foodservice sales during the 2019-20 marketing year.

Virtual Potato Expo ready for big crowd in early January
Virtual Potato Expo ready for big crowd in early January

The first-ever digital Potato Expo is on tap for Jan. 5-7 and the event has plenty to offer the industry, National Potato Council leaders say.

Hazel Technologies product safeguards storage potato quality

Hazel Technologies Inc., Chicago, has a new product, Hazel Root, that’s designed to protect the quality of potatoes in storage by preventing sprouting.

Portia Stewart
Irregular Produce: Holiday Edition

Check out these weird fruit and veggie tales from around the world, where we eye up potato heads, holiday favorites and The Onion’s hot take on Vilsack and cabbage.

Side Delights launches store locator on website

Side Delights announced the launch of their new store locator function on the Grown Where it Matters website. 

John Keeling was awarded The Packer’s 2018 Potato Man for All Seasons
Potato award nominations sought

It is again time to honor a well-deserving member of the potato growing community by nominating them for the Potato Man or Woman of the Year or Potato Man or Woman for All Seasons award.

Annual Idaho Potato display contest to pamper winner

The Idaho Potato Commission’s annual retail display contest will pamper a participant with a trip to a spa.

Idaho Potato Commission names Southeast retail promotion director
Idaho Potato Commission names Southeast retail promotion director

The Eagle, Idaho-based Idaho Potato Commission has named Mark Daniels as retail promotion director for the Southeast.

Idaho Potato Commission launches holiday promotions

This holiday season family gatherings will look a little different than past years.

Potato and onion business updates
Potato and onion business updates

Browse potato and onion business updated from companies such as Fresh Solution Network, Mack Farms, National Onion Association and more.

Morning Kiss Organic potatoes, onions ready for comfort food needs

With a high quality crop of organic potatoes and onions ready for market, Morning Kiss Organic brings a healthy aspect to this year's much-needed comfort cooking.

Mashed potatoes again will be the No. 1 side dish on Thanksgiving tables this year.
Side Delights highlights popularity of Thanksgiving mashed potatoes

Side Delights shared their findings from studies published on 2020 Thanksgiving spending and favorite Thanksgiving meals and side dishes.

Eagle Eye puts spotlight on growers
Eagle Eye puts spotlight on growers

Idaho Falls, Idaho-based Eagle Eye Produce is “putting a bigger focus on building our brand and promoting the people behind the brand," said Joe Ange, director of business development.

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee focuses on social
Colorado Potato Administrative Committee focuses on social

Jessica Crowther has been promoted to chief marketing officer with the Monte Vista-based Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, said Jim Ehrlich, executive director.

Specialty offerings expand reach of potatoes and onions
Specialty offerings expand reach of potatoes and onions

Specialty varieties play a central role in marketing potatoes and onions, marketers say.

Pandemic alters some potato, onion marketing tactics
Pandemic alters some potato, onion marketing tactics

Potato and onion marketers say COVID-19 has forced them to alter plans in certain channels, but the pandemic hasn’t stopped them.

Maine potato grower debuts Fenway Reds at Hannaford stores

In the fall of 2019, Green Thumb Farms launched the “Farmer’s First” program to develop new potato varieties for retailers – and to help consumers discover new products that work well in their kitchens.

Potato, onion marketers meet challenges of pandemic
Potato, onion marketers meet challenges of pandemic

Even in a pandemic year — or, perhaps, because of it — potatoes and onions are an easy sell, marketers say.

Pandemic, tight frozen product market cause drop in potato exports

U.S. potato exports for the July – September quarter were down significantly compared to the same period in 2019.

Mountain King stepping up packing of small potatoes
Mountain King stepping up packing of small potatoes

Houston-based Mountain King Potatoes is stepping up its packaging capacity of smaller-sized potatoes varieties in the face of strong demand.

Organic vegetable growers gear up for the holidays

Carrots, potatoes, lettuce, onions and tomatoes were among the top 10 categories by volume in the third-quarter Organic Produce Performance Report released Oct. 21 by the Organic Produce Network and Category Partners. 

Tasteful Selections makes Inc. list of fast-growing private companies

Inc. magazine revealed its annual Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies, and Arvin, Calif.-based Tasteful Selections ranked No. 3,941 on the list, according to a news release.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl preps for kickoff
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl preps for kickoff

ESPN has set the date for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a college football bowl game sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission.

January Potato Expo goes virtual
January Potato Expo goes virtual

The Potato Expo 2021 is going 100% virtual.

Side Delights caters to different holiday plans

Consumers are planning their holidays sooner and smaller this year.

Pandemic purchases boost potato sales past 5-year records

Consumers continue to buy more fresh potatoes during the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting sales in most fresh categories and pushing sales of all potato products, including frozen, to five-year records.

Idaho potato industry adjusts to pandemic’s blow to foodservice

Potato sales have taken a big turn toward the retail channel during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and suppliers of Idaho spuds have adapted.

Tomra Insight captures data on the sorting line, improves efficiency
Tomra Insight captures data on the sorting line, improves efficiency

Sorting equipment manufacturer Tomra has released its Insight platform that enhances sorting and grading efficiencies, according to the company.

Good year for spuds in Idaho, marketers say

Idaho potato grower-shippers and marketers say they have responded to the current global pandemic the best way they know how: with a good crop.

Potato displays were shopped down in the mid-March ‘panic buying’ stage of the pandemic.
Bagged potato demand surges during pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has put packaging at a premium, marketers s

Prince Edward Island touts its unique potato environment

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board used its virtual booth at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Expo to highlight the region’s advantages as a potato supplier.

Proposal terminates Washington potato marketing order 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking steps to officially dissolve the marketing order for potatoes in the state of Washington.

Idaho potato sales find markets in spite of COVID-19 pandemic
Idaho potato sales find markets in spite of COVID-19 pandemic

Idaho potato sales are threading their way through the COVID-19 pandemic by spiking in retail stores, while recovering in the foodservice sector, marketers say.

Demand for consumer packs is increasing at A & L Potato Co., says Jenni Bruer, sales representative. The company offers a wide selection of sizes
Potato packs a popular option

Grower-shippers of Red River Valley potatoes offer a selection of consumer packs in addition to the larger-sized sacks, cartons and totes they ship to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers.

Red River Valley foodservice sales plummet

Just about all of the Red River Valley potato grower-shippers were impacted to some degree by a drop in foodservice business during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tasteful Selections’ Celebrate 10 campaign ends with large prize
Tasteful Selections’ Celebrate 10 campaign ends with large prize

Tasteful Selections, Arvin, Calif., is offering a Nine Ways to Cook prize package as the final theme for its Celebrate 10 campaign.

Nokota Packers Inc. started harvesting red potatoes the week of Sept. 14, says Mike Rerick, vice president of sales. “Everything is going smooth at this point,” he said the third week of September. He expects the harvest to continue into mid-October
Red River Valley growers anticipate strong crop

Growers in the Red River Valley, which straddles northwestern Minnesota and northeastern North Dakota, say growing conditions have been great this season, and they expect a good-size crop, far superior to last year’s.

USA Potatoes hires Natalia Cervantes as conversation architect

Natalia Cervantes joins Potatoes USA as conversation architect.

Potato sales at retail continue to surpass typical levels
Potato sales at retail continue to surpass typical levels

Potatoes continue to see elevated sales at retail during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as some restrictions have been relaxed over the summer.

MountainKing shipping record amounts of Butter Russets

MountainKing has ramped up production of Butter Russets, and expects to ship record amount of its top-selling gourmet variety.

Book review: Feeding the People (with potatoes)

Potatoes aren’t mentioned in the Bible but that omission didn’t hold back the popularity of the root vegetable when European explorers brought it back from the Americas.

Almonds supplant grapes as 2019 top Kern County, Calif., crop

The values of Kern County’s top two crops in 2019 switched, with the almond crop higher than the value of its grape crop for the first time since 2011.

USDA closes PACA case against Ohio potato chip company

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has closed a Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act case against a potato chip company.

Side Delights caters to families staying close to home over holidays

Side Delights has meal solutions for families who choose not to travel during the holiday season.

San Luis Valley answers feverish potato demand during pandemic
San Luis Valley answers feverish potato demand during pandemic

A fingerling points to the destruction wrought by the pandemic of 2020.

COVID-19 crisis spurs uptick in bagged potatoes, suppliers say
COVID-19 crisis spurs uptick in bagged potatoes, suppliers say

As long as the new coronavirus hangs around, bagged potato sales will spike, say marketers of San Luis Valley potatoes.