Potato News from Oceania

Some Western Australian potato growers feel they are not getting enough support from their marketing body Western Potatoes to help them get new varieties onto the market.

Potatoes New Zealand says the potato industry is struggling to deal with the tomato/potato psyllid, which spreads the damaging bacterium Liberibacter, and wants more help from the Government.

Tasmanian potato growers supplying McCain Foods have accepted a price rise for their current crop.

After months of failed negotiations culminating in a week of protests and a blockade of the McCain Foods factory in Ballarat, potato growers and the food manufacturer have come to an agreement.

Ballarat region potato growers and McCain Foods have reached an agreement a short time ago, offering growers about $305 a tonne for their potatoes. The Ballarat McCain Growers Group met with the company this afternoon for further negotiations.

Determined potato growers in Ballarat will take their protest to the next level after five hours of talks with McCain Foods senior management failed to reach a solution.

Potato growers are using 50 tractors to protest outside the McCain factory at Ballarat, in central Victoria, over contract negotiations.

The impact of January's Queensland floods has continued, wiping out demand for Victorian potatoes.

McCain Foods Australia is being urged to follow the lead of Simplot Australia by increasing potato prices for Ballarat growers.

Two hundred potato growers who supply Simplot Australia's Ulverstone factory have negotiated a $20 a tonne price increase.

Australian French Fries (or should we say hot chips?) could be in short supply this year after floods devastated potato-growing regions in four states.

The Commerce Commission has reduced the price of Potatoes and Onions effective from last Friday.

New Zealand potato growers have gained access to export potatoes to South Korea, after years of negotiations.

The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will officially open the NZ $19 million upgrade to McCain Foods plant Friday, February 18

Since its launch last year, consumers have bought more than 1,000 tonnes of Carisma, Australia’s first officially certified low GI potato.

A formation meeting has been called to establish a new peak organisation for the South Australian potato industry.

Potato farmers near Koo Wee Rup, south-east of Melbourne, say their crops have been wiped out by the flooding on the weekend.

Niche varieties and customer service are the keys to making a profit.