News on The Potato Supply Chain from Australia

South Australia's Zerella Fresh this month committed to expanding the capacity of their potato washing and grading line. Zerella Fresh has again chosen to reinvest with Wyma Solutions for their post-harvest needs.

The recent finalization of a takeover of Thomas Foods International’s potato business and a spike in demand through the coronavirus pandemic has cemented Mitolo Group as Australia’s largest fresh spud producer.

A taste of Bundaberg will be served around the country as Sweet Potatoes Australia partners with Edgell to launch their new Sweet Potato Fries .

A storage facility capable of storing 11,000 tonnes of potatoes has opened in Burnie, Tasmania. The facility, which can hold 9,000 tonnes in cold-storage long term as well as a further 2,000 tonnes in short term storage, is run by McCain.

The Pye Group's multi-million-dollar investment in its Parilla Premium Potatoes and Zerella Fresh brands will help feed growing demand for potatoes in Australia. It will inject an estimated AUD 42 million into the regional Mallee economy and create 40 new local jobs.

Following eight years at the helm of Potatoes South Australia, Robbie Davis will be stepping down from her role of Chief Executive at the end of 2020.

AUSVEG has welcomed the announcement from Agriculture Minister David Littleproud that two key commitments are now realised under the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA), which will improve market access for Australian potato exporters into the Thai market.

Tasmanian potato growers, who produce the bulk of Australia’s French fries, are having a disastrous harvest. Months of wet weather is making it impossible to get onto paddocks in parts of the state.

AUSVEG and the Produce Marketing Association of Australia – New
Zealand (PMA-ANZ) have decided to postpone Hort Connections 2020, which was
due to be held from 15-17 June 2020 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Adelaide, South Australia has been named as the host city for the 2023 World Potato Congress (WPC), the first time this event has been held in Australia. The announcement was made during Potatoes South Australia’s Annual Industry Dinner and Auction.

Backed overwhelmingly by industry, the Potato Growers Association of Western Australia (PGAWA) is moving forward to establish an export entity by May 2020.

A long-awaited price increase has come for the state's McCain potato growers. Grower Beau Gooch said the $33 per tonne increase would help put profitability back in the paddock.

More than 80 potato growers in Tasmania, Australia felt a sense of relief when receiving Simplot's second offer for their processing potatoes, says Nathan Richardson, chairperson of the Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association (TFGA) Vegetable Council.

One of Australia’s largest potato wholesalers, Mitolo Group, has been fined for entering into unfair contracts with growers.

In Western Australia, the potato industry is embarking on a major effort to develop export opportunities

Tong Engineering has introduced a new twin-head box filler - the Monstafill. A seed potato processor in Tasmania is already using it to minimise labour and to almost triple throughput.

On 10 May, a meeting was held between AuSPICA, members of the Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (known as TasSeed) and invited industry representatives.

Tasmanian potato growers say Simplot is not paying them enough for their vegetables, as they negotiate a new contract with the vegetable processing giant.