Potato News from Oceania

The World Potato Congress is extremely pleased to present its next webinar on Tuesday, April 6, 2021/Wednesday, April 7, 2021, with Dr. Paul Horne, Entomologist, and owner and Director of IPM Technologies Pty Ltd., Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia.

Innovative, specialist fresh potato producers Terrence and Wendy Rattray are diversifying after buying Perfecta Produce and further expanding the substantial agricultural business in the fertile North-West food bowl.

Two trials in Pukekawa, New Zealand, are showing some early promise for potato growers when it comes to greater control of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (PTM).

TOMRA Food introduces SmartGrade on its Spectrim platform. The new system puts the packhouse in control of grading with such accuracy that it is able to pack fruit to maximize sales by matching the specific requirements of the individual customers.

TOMRA Food has launched the most comprehensive online learning resource for packhouse professionals in the fresh produce industry. Packhouse Academy, powered by TOMRA Academy, offers a wide range of videos, webinars, and training modules.

Lamb Weston has named Simone Anderson as the new Vice President and General Manager, Lamb Weston Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), beginning January 4, 2021.

With so many weighing and packaging options available, it can be difficult to narrow down the right fit for your processing line. To help find the right equipment for your line, Manter has put together this short guide to help begin the selection process.

South Australia's Zerella Fresh this month committed to expanding the capacity of their potato washing and grading line. Zerella Fresh has again chosen to reinvest with Wyma Solutions for their post-harvest needs.

The recent finalization of a takeover of Thomas Foods International’s potato business and a spike in demand through the coronavirus pandemic has cemented Mitolo Group as Australia’s largest fresh spud producer.

Global food processing and packaging solutions specialist, tna, is launching an all-new virtual platform; tna Connects, to provide the food manufacturing community with a go-to destination for insight, innovation, and inspiration.

A taste of Bundaberg will be served around the country as Sweet Potatoes Australia partners with Edgell to launch their new Sweet Potato Fries .

Compac, empresa integrante de la familia TOMRA Food, lanza la plataforma de clasificación más avanzada del sector: la TOMRA 5S Advanced. Su desarrollo se ha realizado tomando como base el funcionamiento líder de la clasificadora multilínea de Compac.

A storage facility capable of storing 11,000 tonnes of potatoes has opened in Burnie, Tasmania. The facility, which can hold 9,000 tonnes in cold-storage long term as well as a further 2,000 tonnes in short term storage, is run by McCain.

The Pye Group's multi-million-dollar investment in its Parilla Premium Potatoes and Zerella Fresh brands will help feed growing demand for potatoes in Australia. It will inject an estimated AUD 42 million into the regional Mallee economy and create 40 new local jobs.

McCain Foods Timaru potato processing plant is reducing its energy usage environmental impact, now looking to electrification, by installing Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology, a first in New Zealand.

Following eight years at the helm of Potatoes South Australia, Robbie Davis will be stepping down from her role of Chief Executive at the end of 2020.

While in the Northern hemisphere we are harvesting potatoes and getting ready for winter, this is not the case in the Southern hemisphere. This article offers tips on how to grow potatoes in your New Zealand backyard.

Pure Foods Tasmania Limited has agreed to buy the business and assets of Daly Potato Company Pty Ltd (DPC) for $1.8M with a mixture of cash and shares, subject to working capital adjustments.