News on The Potato Supply Chain from the United States

A potato disease known as Late blight is threatening some Wisconsin potato fields, but growers are well aware and making strides to prevent it from spreading.

The National Potato Council (NPC) and the United States Potato Board (USPB) are accepting applications for the Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) class of 2015. The annual eight-day program, held Feb. 19-26, 2015, is designed to identify, develop, and cultivate new leaders within the U.S. potato industry.

New sales figures from the United States indicate that when it comes to bagged fresh potatoes, smaller package sizes are starting to sell big.

Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, Moses Lake, is the focal point of a Republican primary election controversy involving the race between Clint Didier and his opponent Dan Newhouse.

Today’s consumers desire to understand the health and nutritional benefits of the produce they buy. That’s why the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI), an industry-wide effort aimed at creating a quick and efficient traceability process by electronically tracking produce from the farm fields to supermarket shelves, is vital.

Extreme heat throughout Idaho to start July has raised concerns from some potato and onion growers.

As part of the second and final public environmental assessment comment period for the J.R. Simplot Company's petition to deregulate its biotech Innate™ 1.0 potatoes, the National Potato Council submitted comments to the Federal Register noting that the technology 'could effectively address key production and processing issues facing the potato industry.'

In the first week of June, an Idaho potato grower could expect to receive between $7.75 and $8.25 for 100 pounds of potatoes, depending on quality, according to data. In the first week of July, prices had fallen to between $4.25 and $4.75.

In this USDA research on soybean crops, researchers find a link between minimum winter temperature and pesticide use.

Among US families, avoiding GMO's is increasingly becoming one of the drivers to buy organic foods.

The Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) has elected its new Executive Committee. Nelson Cox was named chair of the commission

Despite mid-winter concerns, Idaho growers are concern-free this season when it comes to moisture.

President Obama signed into law revisions to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules that ease compliance for farms across Maine.

Whether you call them glassy ends, translucent ends, dark ends, jelly ends, or something even less flattering, sugar ends are a significant issue.

Riverland potato producer Justin Della Zoppa has been named the 2014 Rabobank Potatoes South Australia Industry Award winner.

A University of Florida scientist has pinpointed Mexico as the origin of the pathogen that caused the 1840s Irish Potato Famine, a finding that may help researchers solve the $6 billion-a-year disease that continues to evolve and torment potato and tomato growers around the world.

Hairy nightshade and potato tuberworm (or potato tuber moth) are two economically important inhibitors to potato production. Two of the latest ‘Focus on Potato’ webcasts focus on these economically important potato pests.

In response to member feedback and as part of its new strategic plan implementation, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) unveiled its redesigned website http://www.pma.com on Tuesday, May 27.