Join us at PotatoEurope 2010 in September!
  |
 | February 2010 | | | |  Chips declared Britain's official 'feel good' food
As National Chip Week gets underway, scientists have been hard at work to discover what keeps the British love affair with chips alive. Is it their taste or tempting aroma? Certainly, but experts at Aston University’s School of Life and Health Sciences have also delved deeper and revealed that after eating chips people are calmer and more cheerful. Dr Mike Green who led the research explained: “The consumption of chips clearly improved respondents’ mood. The psychological data showed that participants who were feeling down felt better after eating chips. In fact, calmness was restored within twenty minutes.”
Source: Potato Council
Full Article
| | | Psyllid pest threatens price hike for NZ consumers
The price of potatoes could rise next year as farmers fight the infestation of an insect that could cost the $550 million industry up to a quarter of its revenue. Farmers are facing massive costs in handling the outbreak of psyllid, an insect that feeds on and causes disease in crops. Some growers are reducing their crop sizes and others are on the brink of quitting the industry - which could lead to a shortage of spuds that would cause a price hike in the Kiwi staple.
Source: NZ Herald
Related Link
| | | Spanish chip company modernizes to conquer China
A San Nicasio chips company (Patatas Fritas San Nicasio) is launching a new healthy snack that has allowed it to access the most demanding international markets such as China, Japan and the U.S. The Department of Innovation, Science and Enterprise has provided advice and technical support to the company for a development and modernization plan to expand its production capacity and open new markets. The company has developed a new concept for healthy snack: potato chips made with non-transgenic Spanish, extra virgin olive oil and pink Himalayan salt. This salt is exceptionally rich in minerals and trace elements (iron) and is a very healthy salt recommended by many nutritionists and food experts.
Source: Argenpapa
Related Link
| | | Diamond Foods to buy Kettle Foods
Diamond Foods, seller of Emerald nuts and Pop Secret popcorn in the US, said that it would buy the maker of Kettle potato chips for $615 million. Diamond plans to buy Kettle Foods Inc.'s operations in the U.S. and the U.K. from Lion Capital LLP.
Source: dailyfinance.com
Related Link
| | | Tyrrells Potato Chips served up 20pc rise in revenues
Tyrrells Potato Chips served up a tasty 20pc rise in revenues last year to £15.5m on higher exports and growing sales to large retailers. However, despite the impressive sales growth during the recession, profits for the year ending March 31 2009 remained flat at £2.76m. Tyrrells said that despite the hand cooked crisp market remaining highly competitive, the company had increased market share.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Related Link
| | | Northern Ireland crisp company hit by consequences of cold weather
A third of local crops destined to become crisps were destroyed by the Big Freeze. Crisp company Tayto said it sources two thirds of its potatoes from Northern Ireland and would ideally like all its potatoes to be locally produced. But it will now be forced to search further afield due to the serious crop losses seen at the start of the year.
Source: Belfast Telegraph
Related Link
| | | Aviko wants to share profits with potato growers
Aviko plans to share company profits with its potato growers. The potato processing company is looking for a suitable way to do this, said director Dick Zelhorst of Aviko in an interview with the magazine Potato World. Aviko is owned by beet growers cooperative Cosun. Until now, the profit of Aviko was included in the distribution of Cosun shares, which are controlled by sugarbeet growers.
Source: AGD
Related Link
| | | US processors used less potatoes in 2009
Processors in the 9 major States have used 90.4 million cwt of potatoes this season, down 9 percent from the same period last year and down 15 percent from 2 years ago, according to information published in a recently released USDA report. It is also reported that the 13 major potato States held 203 million cwt of potatoes in storage February 1, 2010, up 11 percent from a year ago and 2 percent above February 1, 2008. Potatoes in storage accounted for 53 percent of the 2009 fall storage States' production, 3 percentage points above February 1, 2008. Potato disappearance, at 181 million cwt, was 3 percent below February 1, 2009 and down 9 percent from 2008.
Source: USDA
Related Link
| | | US processor ConAgra Foods to shut down potato production line
ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, south-central Idaho’s fifth-largest employer, will shut down one of its potato processing lines, affecting up to 120 employees. Employees were informed of the line closure Monday afternoon. Marti DeMoss, communications manager for ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, confirmed the food processor will discontinue operations on one of the six production lines at the Twin Falls facility on or before Sept. 6.
Source: Magic Valley
Related Link
| | | PepsiCo eyes global snack growth
US food and drink giant PepsiCo plans to build on its “global leadership” in “macro” snacks in 2010 through acquisitions and the development of healthier products. The firm yesterday reported a 16% increase in full-year profits, driven by gains in its worldwide snack and international beverage businesses. CEO and chairman Indra Nooyi said the Frito-Lay owner will take advantage of its “global leadership position” in “macro” snacks in a bid to capitalise on “huge growth opportunities” in the sector.
Source: ausfoodnews.com
Related Link
| | | Ukraine plans to increase potato imports by 40% this year
Ukraine plans to increase potato imports this year by 40% compared to 2009 due to shortage of potatoes in the domestic market, as well as poor quality of the Ukrainian potato, local analysts believe. According to the Ukrainian media reports, most of the supplies will be shipped from Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Source: Lenta.ru
Full Article
Related Link
| | | Bangladesh: Govt to subsidize potato exports
The government has planned to subsidise potato export to boost its shipment after a bumper harvest saw cold storages teeming with the new crop and farmers worrying over major slide in prices, officials said Sunday. The move comes after potato yield this year crossed an estimated nine million tonnes, topping the national requirement by at least two million, resulting in a fall in local prices, commerce minister Faruk Khan said.
Source: Thefinancialexpress-bd.com
Related Link
| | | Ukrainian companies importing potatoes from Saudi Arabia and Egypt
Ukrainian companies will boost imports of potatoes to cover a domestic deficit, UKRINFORM has reported, citing the Delo newspaper. The main suppliers of potatoes are Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The ships with products from these countries are already at a Ukrainian port.
Source: nrcu.gov.ua
Related Link
| | | North American potato prices crushed by low demand
Potato farmers are looking at a gloomy season as consumers avoid the spud, and Idaho overproduced by half a million tonnes. About 100 Prince Edward Island potato growers met with international representatives of the industry in February to hear the market forecast, and there was little in the way of good news. "It is depressing news," said Cary Hoffman of the United Potato Growers of North America. "Our hope right now is to try to make sure that this oversupply of potatoes for this season doesn't impact next season's crops."
Source: CBC
Related Link
| | | Dutch potato export trade declines
According to information published in the latest issue of Euro Potato (published by Potato Council in the UK), export trade in the 2009/10 crop season continues to decline in the Netherlands. Total ware sales from the 2009 crop up to the end of November were estimated at 246,000 t, compared with 301,000 last year and 322,500 t in 2007.
Source: Euro Potato
Full Article
| | | Growers cautioned not to over-water at the start of the season
At a Potato Council-organised Soils and Water Forum held in Huntingdon in the UK, it was pointed out that potato growers can make efficiencies in irrigation without sacrificing yield or quality if the relationship between soil and plant water status is better understood, according to research being carried out by Cambridge University Farm (CUF).
Source: Farmers Guardian
Related Link
| | | Idaho's effort to eradicate potato nematode makes progress
It appears the pale cyst nematode, formerly known as the potato cyst nematode, is found nowhere in Idaho outside a quarantine area south of Idaho Falls on the border of Bonneville and Bingham counties, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More than 209,000 soil samples have so far confirmed Idaho's freedom from the yield-destroying pest in all but nine infected fields, the USDA reports in a release.
Source: Ag Weekly
| | | Potato crop destroyed by frost in Cyprus
per cent of potato crops suffered extensive damage in the Famagusta district, farmers complained in February. AKEL Deputy Yiannakis Gabriel told reporters the damage caused to crops due to three nights’ freezing temperatures had brought about irreversible damage. He said the damage was 80 to 90 per cent complete and had been verified by Agriculture department officials who had visited the area.
Source: Cyprus Mail
Related Link
| | | Canada and Latvia to cooperate for UN Food Program potato supply
The Government of Canada has signed an agreement with the Latvian potato producers under which they will start growing potatoes for hungry people in the world under the UN Food Program. According to media reports in Russia, the Canadian government has estimated the experience of Latvian specialists and proposed them to take part in a pilot project on the cultivation and supply of potatoes for the needs of the UN. It is reported that in the spring of this year Latvian potato producers will receive the first order from the Canadian government. If the deal closes, the first batches of the Latvian potatoes will be shipped to Africa, and later to other developing regions. In addition, both sides are planning to join forces on the breeding of new varieties of potatoes, and to start a mutual exchange of genetic material.
Source: Rosbalt.ru
| | | Tajikistan increased potato production in 2009
More than 657,000 tons of potatoes were produced in Tajikistan in all categories of farms in 2009 - which is 23,000 tons higher compared to 2008, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of the country. "In some areas of the country, in particularly in Matche, the level of production amounted to 370 hundredweight per hectare," said an official representative of the Ministry. According to him potatoes were planted on 31,1 thousand hectares, which increased by 1,5 thousand hectares compared to the previous year. The Ministry said that "Pikaso", "Cardinal" and "Santa", currently remain the most popular varieties of potatoes in Tajikistan. The increase in potato production led to a decrease in imports from other countries, in particular from Pakistan. In addition, increased production has resulted in lower prices for potatoes within the country.
Source: Avesta.tj
| | | Big freeze costs Irish potato growers €15m
The big freeze cost farmers more than €15m as they could not harvest 6,000 acres of potatoes. The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said in early February some members could struggle to make ends meet this year as they would have no crop to sell until the summer.
Source: The Independent
Related Link
| | | UK potato production 'increases alternaria threat'
Trends in UK potato production appear likely to increase the risk of alternaria, or early blight, becoming a serious problem in the UK, SAC's Ruairidh Bain said. The factors that have increased alternaria in continental Europe in the past 10 years are all trends happening in the UK, he said.
Source: FWI
Related Link
| | | Indië: Remote sensing to track potato productivity in Himachal
As food prices spiral and the government faces flak for being unable to keep essential commodities affordable, the task of forecasting productivity of crops like potato assumes importance for which ground observation coupled with satellite imagery is now being applied.
Source: Himachal.us
Related Link
| | | Spanish potato growers association confirmed joint promotion
Southern Spanish potato growers association Andalusian Early Potatoes has signed a deal with some of the country’s leading potato packers to promote the product in some of Spain's major supermarket chains. In a statement, Andalusian Early Potatoes said the campaign would be aimed at driving awareness among consumers of the differentiating qualities, in terms of taste and freshness, of potatoes produced in the Spanish region.
Source: Fruitnet
Related Link
| | | Potential Australian seed potato market in Bangladesh
A potato seed grower in the south west of Western Australia is growing his export market into Bangladesh. Bangladesh grows about four times more potatoes than Australia, with most seeds coming from Holland. But Tom Fox, from Lake Jasper Certified Seed Potatoes, is expanding into the region. He's the first Australian grower to do so, and says the region is full of opportunity. "We certainly can't fill the orders, there's large potential there and they're very impressed with product from WA."
Source: ABC Rural
| | | Dickeya-infected potato seed may not be replanted in Scotland
Grower members of the SAC's Association of Potato Producers heard about new risks from diseases and whether to chit seed at their annual conference. Seed crops infected with Dickeya solani, a new more aggressive form of blackleg, could be taken out of seed production in Scotland, Gerry Sadler of SASA told growers at the SAC Association of Potato Producers annual conference.
Source: FWI
Related Link
| | | Fungus strain puts Ireland's potato crop at risk
The potato crop is under severe threat once again from blight with the emergence of a new strain of the fungus Blue 13 which has arrived here from Britain where it was first detected in 2005. Farmers already suffering from severe crop losses because of frost and snow were told yesterday at the National Potato Conference that the new strain had spread to many parts of Ireland and may be adapting to Irish conditions. Teagasc researchers Stephen Kildea and Denis Griffin reported their preliminary findings on the spread of the disease last year when the wet summer of 2009 created ideal blight conditions. They found the Blue 13 strain dominated potato blight populations along the east coast and had increased in Donegal crops but its spread was less dramatic than on the east coast. No strain of it was found in Cork.
Source: Irish Times
| | | US Potato Board pushes nutrition in February, March
The U.S. Potato Board is looking to carry the potato’s nutrition message past the New Year’s health rush this year, and is ramping up a multi-part potassium campaign to keep the buzz going. The timing of the board’s potassium push correlates with American Heart Month in February and National Nutrition Month in March. Its message is centered on research that shows the potato has the most potassium per serving of the top 20 selling fruits and vegetables in the U.S., followed by broccoli, bananas and tomatoes.
Source: The Packer
Related Link
| | | New strain of potato blight in Ireland
A new strain of potato blight has been detected in Ireland, the Teagasc-IFA national potato conference was told in February. First detected in Co Down in 2007, the so-called "Blue 13" strain has moved down along the east coast.
Source: Meattradenewsdaily.co.uk
Related Link
| | | Possible GMO potato trial in the UK?
The British Government is considering an application from British scientists to plant GM potatoes in a field trial in Norwich. Scientists in the Sainsbury’s Laboratory at the John Innes Centre hope to get approval from Defra in order to start their three-year trial in May. The researchers aim to genetically modify a potato resistant to blight.
Source: Farmers Guardian
Related Link
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
|
