Potato News from Oceania

Several Tasmanian potato growers whose contracts were cancelled by McCain last year have rejected new contract offers from the company.

McCain Foods is bringing its new branding to Australia. The new branding, developed by brand agency BrandOpus, was first introduced in the United Kingdom and marked the first complete overhaul of the McCain logo in more than 50 years.

New Zealand Potato growers are spending NZ$240,000 (~200.000 USD) on research to try to find why their harvests have not been increasing.

Simplot brand Birds Eye has channeled sports commentating in its latest television campaign for its Hot Chips range.

A simple mesh cover could be the answer to halting New Zealand's most devastating tomato and potato pests, the tomato potato psyllid.

Las mariquitas podrían ser la clave para la salvación de un insecto transmisor de una bacteria para la industria de la papa de Nueva Zelanda.

Potato growers In Australia have been forced to wait longer for the outcome from an inquiry of the Australian Senate into New Zealand potato imports after the report release date was further delayed.

Restructuring and corporate advisory firm McGrathNicol was yesterday appointed as receivers following Heard Phillips being appointed administrators of the company.

Australian frozen food company Birds Eye has launched two new potato chip ranges.

Research conducted by the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University, using the southern ladybird as a biological control agent, has shown the predator to be voracious and effective at reducing tomato-potato psyllid (TPP) numbers.

Biofumigation is being used in Tasmania to reduce vegetable cropping rotations and boost yields.

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) Board has elected a new chair. Terry O’Brien, Managing Director of Simplot Australia, has been elected by the Board following the resignation of John Doumani.

Cutting edge DNA testing technology, novel approaches to pest and disease management, and exciting new plant nutrition applications – these are amongst the latest Research and Development (R&D) activities that will be presented at the Field Day on ...

A $15,000 travel grant from the Lincoln University Foundation has proved of real benefit to the farming and potato chips business of New Zealand couple Ray and Adrianne Bowan, who won the 2011 Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Ye...

McCain Foods today announced it has completed the acquisition of Kitchens of Sara Lee (KOSL) Australia from Hillshire Brands, boosting its consumer offering. The transaction, initiated on December 18, is valued at A$82M.

Leading industry researchers will team-up with local Victorian agronomists at a Field Day event next month, to help raise awareness amongst potato growers and processors about key research and development (R&D) activities currently being undertaken...

Potato growers across the Warren Blackwood have revealed their struggle to meet standards set by retail giants Coles and Woolworths.

A drop in fresh potato consumption across the country has prompted the state industry body to call for a national promotional campaign to help boost sales.