Latest News From Potatoes

The United Fresh Produce Association examines in its latest FreshFacts on Retail report how COVID-19 has affected first-quarter produce sales.

The latest data from IRI show that fresh produce sales have stayed at higher-than-usual levels, though not quite as high as in previous weeks.

Potatoes USA is seeking nominations for 60 open board member seats for the 2020-24 term.

Side Delights, San Francisco, Calif., has evolved its 2019 Grown Where it Matters digital campaign to a 2020 Time for What Matters campaign.

This information, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, shows week-by-week shipments and f.o.b.s for commodities from shipments for the fresh market.

Cold Connect, a Union Pacific Railroad program that shipped fresh produce and other perishables across the country, has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Van Doren Sales Inc., East Wenatchee, Wash., which manufactures packinghouse equipment, has acquired Agjet LLC., a data integration company focused on case handling, coding and traceability.

A paper top seal package from Mucci Farms and a snacking tomato from Mastronardi Produce’s Honey Bombs line were among the recipients of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s New Produce Showcase Awards.

RPE Inc., Bancroft, Wis., has hired Lauren Mordasky as business development manager.

The potato industry needs more help than what the government has given so far, Kam Quarles believes.

The road to the new normal as the COVID-19 crisis continues is a rocky one for many in the fresh produce industry.

Tasteful Selections, Arvin, Calif., is introducing a limited-time, bite-size medley of red, bluish and white potatoes called American Blend before Memorial Day.

Retail scan data from IRI show fresh produce sales returned to elevated levels in late April.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is planning on buying $470 million in surplus food, including $105 million worth of produce, as growers cope with disrupted supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed an administrative complaint against Jones Potato Chip Co. for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

Checking in on top-of-mind issues for Idaho potato growers, The Packer’s Tom Karst visited April 30 with Shawn Boyle, president and general counsel for the Idaho Grower Shippers Association. 

The market distress that the COVID-19 pandemic has created for growers and ranchers has captured near-universal awareness.

Black Gold Farms, Grand Forks, N.D., will start harvest of red potatoes in Texas soon.

Side Delights won its third packaging design award in five years from Graphic Design USA’s 57th American Packaging Design Awards.

Arvin, Calif.-based Tasteful Selections, in partnership with RPE Inc., has launched a redesigned website as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Grimmway Farms is preparing to ship new crop organic red and gold potatoes from its Cal-Organic Farms division from California.

2020 U.S. potato acreage is likely to be down substantially in response to disappearing foodservice demand for frozen potatoes and large count-carton potatoes in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions.

MountainKing Potatoes, Houston, is stepping up its social media presence as potato demand has rapidly increased at retail during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Potandon Produce LLC, Idaho Falls, has hired John Palczynski as Midwest regional sales manager, a new position at the company.

Michael Family Farms, Urbana, Ohio, launched a website showcasing its operation and Side Delights potato products.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited April 8 with Mike Mauti, managing partner of the consulting firm Execulytics on the Canadian retail perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tasteful Selections, Arvin, Calif., is celebrating its 10-year anniversary by collaborating with Lisa O’Driscoll, the Fun Money Mom blogger, to create quick and easy recipes.

Fresh produce sales growth slowed significantly at the end of March after two record-breaking weeks earlier in the month due to stock-up buying because of the coronavirus COVID-19.

The coronavirus COVID-19 and efforts to slow its spread have had a significant effect on the produce industry, forcing suppliers to adjust in a number of ways.

The restaurant shutdown due to COVID19 has thus plugged the major consumption channel for potatoes. John Phipps explains the potato paradox in John's World.

The Michigan Potato Industry Commission, Lansing, has donated $5,000 to the Food Bank Council of Michigan, to be used by food banks to purchase potatoes.

Ben Josephson has returned to Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC as sales director after having stepped away temporarily, said Eric Beck, marketing director with the Idaho Falls, Idaho-based potato grower-shipper.

Measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19 has resulted in unprecedented demand at grocery stores, and retailers expect the sales increases could lead to difficulty sourcing some produce items in coming months.

Trying to find potatoes at the supermarket isn’t as tough as finding toilet paper, but spuds have been moving fast and furious during the early days of the lockdown with the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Big Idaho Potato Truck is returning to its home base early this season due to coronavirus COVID-19 concerns.

DENVER, Colo. — The 2020 annual meeting of Potatoes USA proceeded as planned even as news was breaking that the NCAA decided to exclude fans from its annual post-season basketball tournament the coronavirus, COVID-19.

DENVER, Colo. —  The 2019 potato crop delivered lower yields in the Red River Valley and parts of Idaho, but other regions saw growth.

The coronavirus COVID-19 and efforts to slow its spread have had a significant effect on the produce industry, forcing suppliers to adjust in a number of ways.

Collinsville, Ill.-based packaging manufacturer Sev-Rend Inc. has expanded in the past year, said Jeff Watkin, director of marketing.

The Eagle-based Idaho Potato Commission has intensified its promotional and merchandising efforts, said Ross Johnson, international marketing director.

Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg, Maine, will open a new packaging line in April, said Mike Hart, director of sales and marketing.

There’s more to the potato business than reds, whites and russets, marketers say. Specialty varieties and organics are important parts of the product mix, they note.

The National Potato Council will host a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Feb 26 to urge the U.S. Senate to take up legislation to solve the agricultural labor crisis.

Exports of fresh potatoes, which includes shipments destined for processing markets, saw a 9% increase in tonnage and almost 11% increase in value during the second half of 2019.

Rough weather during the U.S. potato harvest last fall continues to shake up the markets well into 2020, marketers say.

The new Potato Sustainability Alliance is building on an earlier industry initiative to tell the story of how growers feed the nation responsibly.

Larry Alsum, president and CEO of Alsum Farms & Produce Inc., and Dick Okray, president of Okray Family Farms, are the newest members of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Association Hall of Fame.

Morning Kiss Organic, Chelsea, Mass., is celebrating Potato Lover’s Month — February — by promoting the vegetable’s nutritional attributes

Taysom Hill, who played in a variety of positions for the New Orleans Saints in 2019, is no stranger to the Idaho Potato Commission.

Tomra and its subsidiaries Tomra Food, Compac and BBC Technologies were busy at the Fruit Logistica exposition, showcasing new equipment at the international show.