News on The Potato Supply Chain from the United States

There is good news for potato salad lovers just as the season for chilled potatoes officially heats up. New research published in the scientific journal Food Chemistry adds to the growing body of evidence that shows that cooking and cooling potatoes can significantly increase the amount of Resistant Starch (RS).

RPE, Inc.’s bite-sized potato brand, Tasteful Selections™, is continuing its efforts to inspire consumers to rescue moments and spend more quality time with family by creating delicious time-saving recipes and useful cooking tips.

Last Thursday, the United States Senate has passed, by a vote of 63 to 30, a bill that would create a national standard for labeling food made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

The Little Potato Company celebrated construction of its first U.S. plant June 29 in DeForest. The new $20 million, 130,000-square-foot plant, which is being built by Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies, is scheduled to open in January 2017.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension 'Spudbug' Newsletter, it is shaping up to be a Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) year in the Red River Valley.

Potato breeders at Oregon State University are working to identify the gene that makes certain potatoes resistant to nematodes, which could then be used to create new varieties.

Maine potato farmers have wrapped up planting and are hoping for a good year.

A landmark Senate agreement on national disclosure standards for genetically engineered foods would allow companies to disclose GMO ingredients through digital codes rather than on-package langcode or symbols.

In the United States, the 13 major potato producing states held 52.2 million cwt of potatoes in storage June 1, 2016, down 7 percent from June 1, 2015.

Late blight is a potentially destructive disease of potato and tomato crops worldwide that can result in significant losses if detected too late, diagnosed incorrectly, or if not treated properly.

Potatoes USA announced earlier this month that nominations are now open for new Board Members for the 2017-2020 term.

The University of Idaho is leading a $3.2 million project to combat microscopic worms (nematodes) that threaten potato production.

Purple potatoes might not be the first thing that comes to mind when trying to increase vitamin, mineral and antioxidant intake. However, a group of researchers from CSU have recently developed potato varieties that satisfy these nutritional needs and could act as a preventive measure to several diseases.

There is good research, not so good research, bad research and occasionally there is research that significantly raises my blood pressure. A recent study on the link between potatoes and high blood pressure falls in the latter category.

The recently released U.S. International Trade Commission’s report on the potential economic impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) provides many examples of the benefits this free trade agreement would provide.

Congress is pushing the Agriculture Department to exempt groups such as Potatoes USA (formerly known as the United States Potato Board) from public scrutiny of their internal operations (Freedom of Information Act).

Potato plants boost the chemical defenses in their leaves when Guatemalan tuber moth larvae feed on their tubers, report researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI).

Potatoes have been bred at Cornell for at least 50 years and 70% of the university’s breeding efforts are focused on developing new chip varieties. Walter De Jong reports.