Potato News from Northern America

The South Florida potato harvest season has started well, with a good healthy crop taking shape. It has been underway for just over a month and despite cooler weather at the start of the year, South Florida crops escaped any major frost damage.

A federal judge ruled that the United States government illegally quarantined some Idaho potato fields infested with potato cyst nematodes (PCN), a pest that could threaten the state’s $1.2 billion potato industry.

Key Technology introduces VERYX® digital sorters equipped with their patented Sort-to-Grade™ software for both wet and frozen potato strips.

Tasteful Selections™, a specialty potato brand from RPE Inc., will launch the second quarter of its yearlong Fresh campaign on April 1

Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.. The acquisition increases the contribution of snack sales to almost half the total sales

The Potatoes USA, 2018 Annual Meeting came to a close last week with the election of a new Board Chairman and Executive Committee.

Cape Cod Potato Chips just introduced their newest line of kettle cooked potato chips, Cape Cod® Waves™ Potato Chips.

Starting in May, Taco Bell tortilla chips are rolling out to grocery and convenience stores in the United States.

Duravant has completed the acquisition of Key Technology.

QSR chain McDonald’s has announced it will partner with franchisees and suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to McDonald’s restaurants and offices by 36% by 2030 from a 2015 base year in a new strategy to address global climate change.

On April 2, Lamb Weston will introduce the Seashore Puff™, a Potato Puff with the same distinct flavor (Sea-salt, Black Pepper and Garlic) as Lamb Weston's Seashore™ Fries, that have been growing in popularity in the fry category.

Heat and Control eligió a SNAXPO 2018 para lanzar Inspira, la fabricante de bolsas VFFS de próxima generación, y ACP-700, una empaquetadora de cajas automática que es nueva en la línea de salas de empaque de Ishida.

Convenience Store Chain 7-Eleven adds potato tots to its hot snacks. The new 7‑Eleven Tots can be customized with toppings from 7‑ Eleven’s condiment and toppings bar - previously used to top nachos and Big Bite® hot dogs

Last Tuesday, Taco Bell said its limited-time Nacho Fries have been crowned the company’s most successful new menu item ever.

Benjamin 'Benjy' Firester, 18, of New York City, won the top award in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2018 with a mathematical model that uses disease data to predict how weather patterns could spread late blight spores.

Boulder Canyon Authentic Foods® expands its line of Rice Bran Oil Kettle Cooked Potato Chips with the introduction of two new savory flavors: Buffalo Ranch and Sweet Chipotle

At SNAXPO 2018, Equipment Supplier to the Snack Industry Heat and Control will showcase the latest technologies, including Heat and Control's processing systems line-up, FastBack®, Spray Dynamics®, Ishida®, and CEIA®.

The USDA reported the preliminary estimated value for the Idaho® Potato crop of 2017 at USD 1.2 billion, a 22.7% leap from the previous year.