News on Food Trends from the United States

Today Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) announced plans to build The Conagra Brands Center for Food Design in Chicago at 350 N. Orleans Street, located next to its existing headquarters in The Merchandise Mart.

Campbell Soup Co. agreed to sell its European potato chips business to Valeo Foods Group Ltd. for about 66 million pounds ($80 million), the soupmaker’s latest divestment as it simplifies operations.

NORPAC Foods, Inc., a grower-owned fruit and vegetable cooperative founded in 1924, announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Oregon Potato Company (OPC) under which OPC will acquire substantially all of the Company's assets.

Highlander Partners, L.P., a leading middle-market private investment firm based in Dallas, Texas, through its newly-formed food platform, Benestar Brands ("Benestar"), announced the acquisition of Evans Food Group ("Evans") from Wind Point Partners.

IRI sales data April through June showed success for potato sales in retail outlets in the United States, reports Potatoes USA.

Processing equipment manufacturer Key Technology has appointed Jeff Nielsen as Area Sales Manager. He will offer Key’s digital sorting, conveying and automation systems to food processors in the Southeast and South Central United States.

WSU plant pathologists Kiwamu Tanaka and Cynthia Gleason are exploring novel approaches to protect the potato crops against nematodes and scab - mobilizing nature itself.

Heat-related illness is one of the most common maladies to befall outdoor workers, particularly in agricultural settings.

Yesterday, TreeHouse Foods, Inc., a leading manufacturer of private label foods, announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Company's Snacks Division to Atlas Holdings LLC.

Ongoing studies at the University of Idaho’s Aberdeen Research & Extension Center seek to help seed potato growers avoid a chronically troublesome disease spread by aphids, called potato virus Y, writes John O’Connell in the Idaho State Journal.

Utz Quality Foods, LLC announced today their affiliation with WeStock™, the crowd-stocking application (app) designed to help every day shoppers discover and request new food and beverage products.

The Idaho Potato Commission has found that the best way to communicate that potatoes are part of an active, healthy lifestyle is to show it. Therefore, the IPC sponsors several athletic programs and events that support and encourage folks to be active.

The National Potato Council joined with over 950 farm groups and agricultural
organizations in a letter urging Congress to immediately ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada
Agreement (USMCA).

NewCold, a specialist in automated cold storage, announced the opening of its $90 million, 180,000-square-foot facility in Burley, Idaho. French fry maker McCain Foods is NewCold’s largest Idaho customer.

In response to the explosive growth and demand for smaller-sized potatoes in smaller-sized bags.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has expanded the drought emergency declaration to cover nearly half of Washington state due to worsened, poor water supply conditions around the state and warmer and drier weather predictions through the summer.

PepsiCo, Inc., announced the launch of PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab, a first-of-its-kind suite of capabilities built to connect foodservice operators with the companies, services, insights, and solutions best suited for their specific needs.

United States potato exports of frozen, dehy and fresh have all posted modest gains through the first three quarters of the July 2018 – June 2019 marketing year.