Potato News from Florida

It’s potato planting time in North Florida. St. Johns County is one of the counties in Northern Florida well known for its potato production with the town of Hastings being the center of it.

Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP), along with Silas Capital and Emil Capital Partners, announced it is leading a $3 million financing round in Florida-based Vintage Italia, the manufacturer of Pasta Chips.

The Golden Flake plant in Ocala is in high gear for the summer, which is a very busy time in the snack food industry:

ARA Food Corporation has increased capacity, improved efficiency and reduced overheads with the installation of the third packaging system. The investment is part of the company’s drive to expand production and grow its business.

Florida potato growers are packing their heaviest seasonal volume. Demand and movement of Florida potatoes remain strong from mid-March through the end of April

Spray Dynamics’ new Slurry On Demand continuous mixer ends the waste and delay normally required to produce pumpable slurries of oil-based seasonings, chocolate, and other coatings.

Fresh Solutions Network announced that Mack Farms has joined their network of best-in-industry grower/shipper partners.

At the National Potato Council (NPC) Annual Meeting on January 9, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, seven NPC
past presidents were invited to come on stage.

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

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.

TOMRA Sorting Food will exhibit its innovative Halo sorting system at Potato Expo 2015, the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry in North America.

After less than a year of being on the menu, Burger King is getting rid of its lower-calorie french fries, called Satisfries, at most of its restaurants.

A Florida-based potato farmer who recently won an award for his sustainable irrigation methods firmly believes all farmers should adopt the system for the good of the planet.

A University of Florida scientist has pinpointed Mexico as the origin of the pathogen that caused the 1840s Irish Potato Famine, a finding that may help researchers solve the $6 billion-a-year disease that continues to evolve and torment potato and tomato growers around the world.

With more people buying local and organic food, consumers should know the difference between the two so they recognize what they’re buying, but nearly one in five still confuse the terms, a University of Florida researcher says.

Burger King is rolling out a new “Burgers at Breakfast” menu that makes selected lunch and dinner favorites - including french fries - available in the morning alongside the chain’s regular breakfast items.

Key Technology announces the appointment of Cedric Simmons as Area Sales Manager for the Southeast United States.