News on Food Trends from the United States

POTATO EXPO 2015, held January 7-9, in Orlando, Florida, turned out to be the greatest event
yet for exhibitors and attendees.

Brendon and Sheldon Rockey of Rockey Farms in Center, Colorado, were named the recipients of the prestigious 2014 Environmental Stewardship Award presented at the National Potato Council’s 2015 Annual Meeting.

United States Potato Board President & CEO Blair Richardson surprised attendees at the POTATO EXPO 2015 with an industry challenge to install 3,000 potato-friendly salad bars in school lunch programs across the United States.

At the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2015 Annual Meeting, held January 9-10, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, Dan Lake from Lake Seed, Inc. of Ronan, Montana, was elected to serve as NPC’s president for 2015 and to lead the council’s Executive Committee.

Once again, the Washington State Potato Commission and Oregon Potato Commission have joined forces in the planning and execution of the 2015 Washington/Oregon Potato Conference, Jan. 27-29.

Port disruptions on the West Coast due to labor contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) are hurting Idaho agriculture and Idaho’s exporters.

As the restaurant industry struggles to entice more consumer visits, consumer attitudes and behaviors are shifting.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) received an allocation of $4,998,892 in program year 2015 Market Access Program (MAP) funds from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) at USDA. These funds will be used by the USPB to promote frozen, dehydrated, chip-stock, table-stock and seed potatoes in over 25 countries around the world.

Si es aprobado por el por el Congreso, las mujeres de bajos ingresos en Estados Unidos podrán por primera vez pagar por papas con vales subsidiados por el gobierno emitidos por el programa de nutrición infantil Mujeres, Bebés y Niños (WIC).

Count the potato among the special interests rewarded in the massive spending deal Congress unveiled this week.

Snack Food Association CEO Tom Dempsey today urged Congress to approve legislation creating a federal standard for labeling food produced with genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

McDonald's Corporation today announced that global comparable sales decreased 2.2% in November.

Tamas Houlihan has been named executive director of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) by the board of directors, effective immediately.

Barrel O'Fun, which produces potato chips and other snack foods has agreed to pay a $45,000 penalty for not effectively pre-treating wastewater from its production plant before sending it to the now improved city treatment facility.

If the Innate GMO potato is going to take off, depends on Simplot winning over three major factions, Farmers, big buyers such as McDonald's and the Consumer

Snack manufacturer Snyder's-Lance is completing a $10 million investment to improve operations and build on its commitment to sustainability at its manufacturing facility in Hyannis, where the company makes Cape Cod Potato Chips.

The world of snack foods is a Manichean struggle for the soul of your stomach. Do you reach for the tasty, high-calorie, additives-rich mozzarella sticks–or less processed, lower-calorie fruits and veggies?

Inventure Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAK), a leading specialty food marketer and manufacturer, has been named to Forbes magazine's 'America's Best Small Companies' list for 2014.