Potato News from Oceania

A long-awaited price increase has come for the state's McCain potato growers. Grower Beau Gooch said the $33 per tonne increase would help put profitability back in the paddock.

More than 80 potato growers in Tasmania, Australia felt a sense of relief when receiving Simplot's second offer for their processing potatoes, says Nathan Richardson, chairperson of the Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association (TFGA) Vegetable Council.

As we wound our way down to Port Levy, New Zealand, although only an hour from Christchurch city, it felt a world away. The turquoise waters of the harbour as still as glass, under the mid-afternoon Winter sun.

One of Australia’s largest potato wholesalers, Mitolo Group, has been fined for entering into unfair contracts with growers.

A joint Biosecurity New Zealand and Potatoes New Zealand response to the crop disease potato mop-top virus (PMTV) is being closed out, with industry taking the lead on long-term management.

Australian researchers have developed a technique to analyze potato chips’ physical characteristics from simulated first bite to swallow, which they say could be used to help formulate a tastier low-fat snack.

In Western Australia, the potato industry is embarking on a major effort to develop export opportunities

Tong Engineering has introduced a new twin-head box filler - the Monstafill. A seed potato processor in Tasmania is already using it to minimise labour and to almost triple throughput.

On 10 May, a meeting was held between AuSPICA, members of the Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (known as TasSeed) and invited industry representatives.

Philippine-based food company Universal Robina (URC) has announced the divestiture of a 40% stake in its Oceania subsidiary, URC Oceania, to the German snack food manufacturer Intersnack.

Tasmanian potato growers say Simplot is not paying them enough for their vegetables, as they negotiate a new contract with the vegetable processing giant.

Australian potato growers keen to learn about the latest research for managing key pests and diseases on potato farms have an opportunity to listen to leading experts at a Potato Industry Research and Development (R&D) Forum in Melbourne this week.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ready Meals Pty Ltd (Ready Meals), a frozen potato processor in Australia.

McCain has launched a range of craft beer battered chips via a new campaign from Cummins&Partners that "challenges the norm" of online advertising with a long and complex audio clip.

The Heat and Control and Ishida (HCI) Alliance is delivering on the promise of a ‘one-stop-shop’ for integrated processing and packaging snack solutions, with an expert team and a selection of the latest innovative equipment design on display at Snackex,

Ever since Swedish scientists discovered acrylamide in food in the early 2000s, there has been growing concerns over the potential negative impact it could have on people’s health.

The seasoning coverage on a snack food product is an important aspect of the quality a consumer sees, and determines the overall flavour and taste a person experiences.

FPS Food Process Solutions Corporation has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Total Solutions Limited, a leading fabricator of food processing equipment and conveyor systems in Auckland, New Zealand.