News on Research from the United States

North Dakota, potato grower Carl Hoverson was elected Chairman of the United States Potato Board (USPB) at the organization's 2015 Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The University of Maine and the Maine Potato Board have released a new potato variety, Caribou Russet.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) is pleased to announce industry veteran Ryan J. Krabill has joined its staff in the newly-created position of Director of Research & Analysis.

On February 23-26, NPC hosted the 2015 Potato D.C. Fly-In, where more than 150 U.S. potato growers and industry partners from across the country came to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the industry's most pressing federal policy priorities.

A new University of Michigan study confirms what has long been suspected: highly processed foods like chocolate, pizza and French fries are among the most addictive.

Columbia Basin potato processors slowed down during the West Coast port impasse, making fewer potatoes into french fries, hash browns and other potato products shipped around the world.

The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association will honor Ron Norman with its Meritorious Service Award at their banquet on February 17th.

At the National Potato Council (NPC) Annual Meeting on January 9, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, seven NPC
past presidents were invited to come on stage.

POTATO EXPO 2015, held January 7-9, in Orlando, Florida, turned out to be the greatest event
yet for exhibitors and attendees.

United States Potato Board President & CEO Blair Richardson surprised attendees at the POTATO EXPO 2015 with an industry challenge to install 3,000 potato-friendly salad bars in school lunch programs across the United States.

At the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2015 Annual Meeting, held January 9-10, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, Dan Lake from Lake Seed, Inc. of Ronan, Montana, was elected to serve as NPC’s president for 2015 and to lead the council’s Executive Committee.

Once again, the Washington State Potato Commission and Oregon Potato Commission have joined forces in the planning and execution of the 2015 Washington/Oregon Potato Conference, Jan. 27-29.

Port disruptions on the West Coast due to labor contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) are hurting Idaho agriculture and Idaho’s exporters.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) received an allocation of $4,998,892 in program year 2015 Market Access Program (MAP) funds from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) at USDA. These funds will be used by the USPB to promote frozen, dehydrated, chip-stock, table-stock and seed potatoes in over 25 countries around the world.

Tamas Houlihan has been named executive director of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) by the board of directors, effective immediately.

Maureen Storey, PhD, president and CEO of the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) today announced the formation of the APRE President’s Circle, a new membership category designed to strengthen industry value chain collaboration

The Snack Food Association (SFA) will participate in the PACK EXPO Partner Program November 2-5, 2014 at McCormick Place in Chicago, SFA President & CEO Tom Dempsey announced.

Diamond Foods, the company behind Kettle Brand and Kettle Chips will start construction this week of a product development and testing center, located adjacent to the Kettle Brand® production facility in Salem, Oregon