Potato News from Washington

The Washington Potato Co. facility in Warden still smolders the next morning and smoke fills the air after a fire broke out in a potato dehydrator the afternoon of Jan. 21, prompting a response from fire departments across Grant and neighboring Adams counties.

The Washington Potato Company potato dehydration plant in Warden, Washington, was destroyed by a massive fire overnight. The fire caused the immediate evacuation of about a third of nearby town of Warden (pop: 2700) for several hours due to concerns that an ammonia tank located in the plant could burst.

To the untrained eye (and mouth), a Cheetos Snack is a Cheetos Snack. But even die-hard snack lovers might not realize the lengths to which engineers go to ensure each bite has the optimal crunch, lightness, and shape.

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, announces the appointment of John Dykstra as Director of Service Operations for North America, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Potato packer Skone & Connors installs Tong grading and washing equipment. The custom-built potato grading and washing solution enabled this US based company to increase their sizing capabilities of both dirty and washed crop, whilst reducing waste.

Launching new research in support of Washington potato growers, Washington State University is partnering with industry leaders to study healthier, more sustainable, and productive soils.

Featuring a patented direct drive with a counterbalance system, Zephyr's unique motion profile gently moves product with no segregation or stratification and at higher capacities than can be achieved with other horizontal motion conveyors.

McCain Foods USA announced the restart of construction of its 170,000-square-foot expansion at its Othello, Washington potato processing facility. Paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, construction will resume in early October.

Key Technology announces the appointment of Marco Azzaretti as Director of Marketing.

A WSU study has estimated the 2020 economic losses from potato production and processing in Washington. The demand shocks of COVID-19 resulted in a hit of roughly $1 billion dollars in gross state product.

Powered by Industry 4.0 methodologies and IIoT (the Industrial Internet of Things), modern sorters are increasingly being utilized as data centers at the same time they sort product and are uniquely qualified to contribute to the data revolution.

Regular inspection of sorters and shakers ensures efficient operation and prevents unscheduled downtime. To help prepare you, Key Technology just shared information on their comprehensive equipment audits and spotlighting the unsung heroes of your plant – shakers!

This year, this is a season when dreams die. Due to an epic potato glut that imploded his market, he has decided to do what was once unthinkable — destroy part of his crop rather than sink more dollars into cultivation.

Key Technology has appointed Jesus Acevedo as Area Sales Manager for the Pacific Northwest United States.

Negotiations are underway for next year’s potato grower contracts in Washington.

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, announces the rebranding of its customer service organization as SupportPro.

The National Potato Council cheered the passage of the U.S.- Japan Agreement on Agricultural Trade by Japan’s Upper House.

US Farmer cooperative NORPAC Foods filed a motion in bankruptcy court Friday afternoon to sell its Quincy, Washington, plant for USD 93.5 million to Oregon Potato Company.