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From the Editor
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Welcome to the latest issue of the PotatoReporter Online newsletter, Colleagues. The newsletter can also be viewed on our web site - please follow this link:
www.potatoreporteronline.com/newsletters.asp.
PotatoEurope 2009 will be hosted in Emmeloord in the Netherlands from September 8 until the 10th. During the third week of April the potato variety demo site was planted where the field demonstrations will take place on the 9th and 10th. These fields will be used for variety demonstrations, as well as equipment demos and fertilizer trial plots. Photo and movie material are available on the website www.potatoeurope2009.com (on the Press page) - do not hesitate to take a peek!
Also have a look at the last section in this newsletter where news is available on the PotatoEurope Innovation Award nominations as well as the International Business Lounge.
All essential PotatoEurope 2009 information can also be found on the PotatoEurope 2009 web site: www.potatoeurope2009.com or get in touch with Paulien Hoftijzer (Project Manager) by telephone in the Netherlands: (GMT-5) +31 (0)30 6981800, or email: phoftijzer@agriprojects.nl.
With best wishes,
Lukie Pieterse
Editor
editor@potatoreporteronline.com |
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| In the News | | | | | |  Potato Council reaching half of British primary school children with targeted potato campaign
In its regular marketing update report, Potato Council in the UK reported that more than half of all UK primary schools have planted seed potatoes for our Grow Your Own Potatoes campaign. "Education is a key part of our work. 12,500 primary schools have registered to take part in Grow Your Own Potatoes 2009, an amazing 375,000 children," Potato Council says on its web site.
Source: Potato Council
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| | | | Research | | | | | | Research aims to give consumers richly colored potatoes
Across southern Idaho this year, University of Idaho agricultural researchers will be investigating the in-season, harvest, storage and packing processes that affect skin color and quality in specialty potatoes. They will examine the potentially positive or negative effects of growth regulators, in-season and post-harvest fungicides, harvest timing, disinfectants and storage conditions. Roy Navarre, a research geneticist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service at Prosser, Wash., will add a nutritional twist - studying the impacts of these factors on the healthful phytonutrients in potato skins.
Source: Global Potato News
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| In the News | | | | | | Barcel launches biodegradable metallic packaging for their potato chips
Barcel ( Mexico - Grupo Bimbo) has become the first company in the world to launch degradable metallic polypropylene packaging for its potato chips and other snack products. The packaging disintegrates within 3-5 years after the product's shelf life. Use will be gradually implemented on every Grupo Bimbo product at the global level, with degradable metallic packaging fully incorporated by the first quarter of 2011.
Source: Cmgromania.ro
| | | | | | Pringles are indeed potato crisps, UK judges said
A panel of eminent judges in the UK has decided that Pringles are similar to potato crisps - enabling the taxman to take a multimillion-pound bite of VAT. Three judges at the Court of Appeal were asked to decide whether Pringles are similar to potato crisps and made from the potato - and therefore liable for Value Added Tax. They said yes, Pringles are potato crisps...
Source: Telegraph.co.uk
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| | | | Research | | | | | | Potatoes, onions can benefit from irradiation tech, says Pakistani scientist
Pakistan can increase more exports of potato and onion by taking maximum advantage of irradiation technology. Sindh Chairman of Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF), Mateen Siddiqui said food irradiation technology has great potential to increase the shelf life of washed potatoes.
Source: Dailytimes.com.pk
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| | | | | | Acrylamide in food does not up lung cancer risk
Consumption of foods containing acrylamide does not increase the risk of lung cancer in men, and in women, it may actually reduce the risk. Prior research has linked intake of acrylamide, formed in some starchy foods cooked at high temperatures, with various cancers but other studies have not found a link. The association, if any, with lung cancer was unclear, Dr. Janneke G. F. Hogervorst, from Maastricht University, the Netherlands, and colleagues note.
Source: Reuters
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| In the News | | | | | | Frito-Lay getting into the 'locally-made' act
Here's proof-positive that more shoppers must seriously want to know where their food comes from: Frito-Lay, the world's biggest snack-food maker, is getting into the 'locally-made act' with its new marketing campaign. With good reason. A national survey of restaurant chefs by the National Restaurant Association found "locally grown" food to be the hottest industry trend for 2009.
Source: USA Today
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| | | | | | Chips consumption on the rise in Africa, research falling behind
Organised fast food industry, hinged on the rise in consumption of potatoes - is doing booming business all over Africa. The industry is fueled by a rise in disposable income in Africa. “Quality and quantity of crop is poor and unpredictable in terms of supplies and hence processors are not encouraged to venture into this capital intensive business”, Paul Chege, a Nairobi-based processor says. Jackson Kabira, Director, National Potato Research Centre at the Kenya Agriculture Research Centre (KARI) says annual budget allocation for potato research is a mere Ksh100, 000 (US1=Ksh78).
Source: Africasciencenews.org
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| | | | | | France: Processing production picking up with steady demand
Output from processors during the season from July 2008 to end of March 2009 has reduced in volume by 1% compared with the previous similar period. However, production recently has increased with a consistent demand reported during May, according to information published in the latest Euro Potato report, issued by Potato Council Ltd in the UK.
Full Article
| | | | | | Canadian company utilizes processing waste for bioplastic manufacturing
A company based in Canada specializes in the manufacturing of biodegradable resin for injection molding and the base material of this resin is the starch byproduct of the french-fry and potato processing industry. According to Ferdi Van Dongen, president of Solanyl Biopolymers Inc., "we use recovered starch from companies like Simplot that use a high volume of potatoes."
Source: Cpheraldleader.com
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| | | | | | Increase in US fry exports 'caught industry by surprise', says market analyst
The 1.8% increase in French Fry exports may have caught the industry by surprise, said the editor of North American Potato Market News, Bruce Huffaker, in the NAPMN newsletter of 20 May. "It does not seem to fit with the narrative that fryers are giving growers," Mr Huffaker says. However, it is possible that plans for 2009/10 call for a shift in frozen processing volume to Europe and Canada. Trade patterns seem to be erratic, with a large increase in sales to Japan, China, several Middle Eastern countries, and Guatemala.
Source: North American Potato Market News
Full Article
| | | | Research | | | | | | The chip-processing potential of four potato cultivars in response to long-term cold storage and re-conditioning
The reconditioning potential of four potato cultivars (Diamant, Hermes, Lady Rosetta and Spunta) was evaluated in three years of crop production.
Source: InterScience
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| In the News | | | | | | New book on potato storage management now available
This new publication on potato storage brings together the various postharvest considerations, including principles of storage, store design, potato handling, quality control, and store management. It describes the different technical methods of potato storage used worldwide, for example box, bag and bulk storage. The authors of the book are well known figures in the international potato industry: R T Pringle, Scottish Agricultural College, R C Clayton, Potato Council, and C F H Bishop, Writtle College in the UK.
Source: CABI
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| In the News | | | | | | Dutch traders unable to maintain strong April prices
According to Potato Council's May issue of Euro Potato, price increases, due to strong interest from Belgian buyers during late April, failed to be maintained at the beginning of May. Growers became aware the end of season was approaching fast, particularly as the early arrival of the first 2009 crops looked likely, and offered increase supplies.
Source: Euro Potato
Full Article
| | | | | | United States Potato Board eyes Vietnamese market
John Toaspern, Vice President, International Marketing at the United States Potato Board (USPB), and Mike Pink, International Marketing Committee Member from Washington State, traveled to Vietnam, April 17 – 24. The purpose of the trip was to learn firsthand the potential for US potatoes and products in this emerging market.
Source: US Potato Board
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| | | | | | Trade dispute: 'Canada to replace US exports of frozen potatoes to Mexico'
Mexico recently raised tariffs on almost 90 American products, a retaliation for a U.S. decision to cancel access to Mexican truckers on U.S. highways despite the terms of a free trade agreement. Washington farmers exported $87 million in goods to Mexico last year, including frozen potatoes. Canadian potato growers are beginning to replace U.S. exports of frozen potatoes to Mexico, said Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington Potato Commission.
Source: Seattle Times
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