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From the Editor
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Welcome to the latest issue of our PotatoReporter Online newsletter, Colleagues - we trust that you will find the information to be of interest. The newsletter can also be viewed on our web site - please follow this link:
www.potatoreporteronline.com/newsletters.asp.
We want to remind our readers that PotatoEurope 2010 will take place 8th-9th of September at Rittergut, Bockerode near Hanover. PotatoEurope is Europe’s most significant convention of the potato industry. Full details can be found in several languages on the PotatoEurope web site at www.potatoeurope.com.
Lukie Pieterse
Editor
editor@potatoreporteronline.com |
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| In the News | | | | | |  Potatoes are popular once again in Britain, says Mintel
According to Ben Perkins, Senior Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel, "Flying in the face of low-carb diet trends of the past, our research finds that potatoes are a staple food eaten by almost all the population, and sales are rising. Recent economic conditions have provided an ideal opportunity for the industry to tap into trends such as nostalgia and indulgence. Indeed, as the recession has progressed, British consumers have been turning to classic comfort foods, many of which use potatoes as a key ingredient, such as Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash and Shepherd's Pie. Potatoes are eaten by 97% of the British population.
Source: Eatoutmagazine.co.uk
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| | | | | | Over 10.000 British primary schools signed up for potato promotion campaign
Grow Your Own Potatoes, the largest primary school growing project from the UK potato industry, is well on its way to smash targets for 2010! Over 10,000 primary schools have already registered at www.potatoesforschools.org.uk to take part in the scheme, which successfully helps to educate young children about potatoes. This year, Potato Council has encouraged even more key figures and organisations to participate and lend their support to the project. Since the project began over 750,000 children have taken part and it is now being replicated around the world. Planting takes place in March and in June, classrooms unearth their crop.
Source: Potato Council
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| In the News | | | | | | Vietnamese and Indonesian restaurant chains switch to American fries
According to a US Potato Board report, the Lotteria hamburger chain in Vietnam switched to US origin frozen fries for its new contract period, December 2009 through December 2010. With 65 restaurants all over Vietnam, the QSR chain uses around 35 metric tons of frozen fries per month. The first shipment of US fries will arrive in January and will be in all stores by March. The USPB initiated a marketing program for US frozen potatoes in Vietnam in September 2009. Working with Lotteria, the USPB’s representative will provide technical training on proper fry storage, handling and preparation once the conversion to US product is complete. After repeated merchandising visits by the USPB representative in Indonesia, Toni Jack’s (with 13 outlets), switched their shoe-string fries from non-US to US origin product. According to the USPB, the restaurant reports a 25% increase in fry sales after the switch was made.
Source: US Potato Board
| | | | | | McCain Canada launches additive-free frozen foods
McCain Foods unveiled an additive-free product line Wednesday and will continue revamping its frozen foods to remove most of the chemicals whose long, tongue-twisting names make up a good part of the ingredients list of many products. "Not surprisingly, people said they didn't like sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or sodium tripolyphosphate," said Heather Crees, vice-president of marketing for McCain Foods Canada, in an interview with CBC News.
Source: CBC Canada
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| In the News | | | | | | McCain Foods anticipates banner 2010 in South Africa
McCain Foods Ltd. is gearing up for what could be a record year in South Africa. Its sales are booming, a state-of-the-art factory is finally up and running, and the World Cup in June will launch its products in more outlets than ever before. McCain a decade ago identified South Africa as a long-term growth opportunity, launching its foray by acquiring three factories. Today, the New Brunswick-based food giant, which produces a third of the globe's frozen French fries, is branching out around the continent. McCain is now shipping its products to customers in at least eight African countries, from Angola to Zambia.
Source: Globeinvestor.com
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| | | | | | McCain bets big on menu revamp in Canada
After decades of making its french fries, pizzas and snacks with the same ingredients, including strange-sounding additives and preservatives, McCain’s Canadian division has overhauled its cookbook. McCain began a two-year reformulation process. The company’s food scientists started by listing the contents of about 70 of its products on white boards, then selected the ingredients not available to cooks at home. It then spent months testing more natural ingredients and processes to find suitable replacements. The end result was ingredient lists that are shorter and easier to read. McCain also says it was able to cut 20% of the salt from many products.
Source: Canadianbusiness.com
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| | | | | | Potential bidders to tour Kettle Foods site in the UK
Prospective buyers of Kettle Foods are to attend site visits at the company's Norwich headquarters in the UK over the next few weeks, according to reports. Several blue-chip food groups are believed to be among those companies planning to visit with an interest in buying the business, the Eastern Daily Press reported.
Source: Foodbizdaily.com
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| In the News | | | | | | US potato growers connect with South American snack manufacturers and importers
US growers visited Central America, November 30 – December 5, 2009, as part of a USPB-organized Chip-Stock Trade Mission. During the trip, the US delegation, comprised of Sarah Mahler, USPB Marketing Manger; Eric Halverson, USPB International Marketing Committee Member and Black Gold Farms; Weston Walker and Juan De Vincenti, Gold Dust, Inc.; and Dr. Joe Sowokinos, University of Minnesota, visited Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala. According to information published in this week's issue of 'Potato Bytes' newsletter (published by the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association), the delegation met with major snack manufacturers and importers and distributors in each country, during which the group learned more about the Central American snack market and each of the company’s specific supply needs.
Source: NPPGA
Full Article
| | | | | | 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.com
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| | | | | | Potato prices in the Ukraine on the rise due to undersupply
Ukrainian media reports indicate that Ukrainian potato farmers revise their selling prices almost daily due to an undersupply in certain regions of the country. Currently the highest prices for potatoes are observed in the eastern and southern regions of the country, where the quality of the product is always higher, while its prices sometimes exceed 3 UAH/kg (USD$ 0,5). Meanwhile potato prices in the western regions of the country are currently below 2 UAH/kg, due to oversupply in this region. On February 25 an official meeting of the largest Ukrainian potato producers will be held in the city of Lviv, dedicated to the latest developments and future prospects and opportunities in the Ukrainian potato industry.
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| | | | | | Armenia plans increased potato export to CIS countries
The total potato crop harvested in Armenia the past season will exceed the demand in the domestic market, according to the Minister of Agriculture in Armenia, Gerasim Alaverdyan. "The current potato cultivation area in Armenia is 33,000 hectares with a total harvest volume of 620,000 tons," he said. According to his estimate, roughly 400,000 tonnes of the current crop will be supplied to the domestic market, while the remaining volume (100,000-150,000 tons) will be exported abroad, in particular to Georgia. The minister also added that during the next several years the Armenia’s authorities will significantly increase potato exports to CIS countries, and that several such agreements have already been signed. "I think that sales of 100,000-150,000 tonnes of potatoes this year will not be a big problem for us, because we have already agreed all the export conditions with some of our former partners," the Minister said.
Source: Fruitnews.ru
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| In the News | | | | | | North America: 'Sharp drop in usage highlights marketing challenges facing potato producers' - analyst
According to the editor of North American Potato Market News (NAPMN), Bruce Huffaker, this year’s early-season potato disappearance in the US fell to its lowest level since 1992. It fell 6.4 million cwt short of the 2008 pace, a 5.1% decline. Mr Hufaker said the sharp drop in usage highlights the marketing challenges facing US potato producers. According to him the 4.6% usage decline recorded in 2008 can be explained as a normal response to limited supplies and high prices. This year, supplies are plentiful and prices for open-market Russet potatoes have fallen below the cost of production, in most growing areas. Contract prices for frozen processing and chip potatoes remain at record levels, which may be having a negative impact on demand. Whatever the reason, it appears that demand for potatoes produced in North America remains soft. Mr Huffaker also noted that May-November processing use fell 5.7% short of the 2008 pace. "Such a steep decline in usage during the May-November period, which bridges two processing seasons, is extremely unusual," he said.
Source: NAPMN
| | | | | | Production estimates for ware potatoes in EU 5 countries released
2009 crop production estimates for Ware potatoes in the EU 5 countries are now complete. Reports from representatives of the Northwest European Potato Growers (NEPG) highlight the favourable growing conditions this season, despite the dry planting conditions and drought during parts of the summer. Unusually the crop and market situation is similar across the whole of Northern Europe. Generally one or two countries show differences regarding production levels, quality issues or prices, compared with the others. Yields were similar to 2008, with the exception of GB, but in all countries dry matter content in tubers was reported to be high. This led to greater damage in stored crops, particularly due to bruising following the dry harvest period.
Source: Euro Potato
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| | | | | | High prices drive potato farming in Bangladesh
Farmers, encouraged by high potato prices, are showing greater interest in cultivating potatoes this year. Agriculture officials are also upbeat on a large-scale farming that might exceed government targets. Munshiganj, a major potato hub, has exceeded the potato acreage target. Two other major hubs -- Rangpur and Bogra -- are likely to achieve the target soon, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Source: The Daily Star
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| | | | | | More potatoes produced in France in 2009
Total 2009 crop production in France has been estimated at 7,192,800 t, around 1.2 m t
higher than in 2008. This is from a total planted area of 162,000 ha and an average yield of 44.4 t/ha. Early crop growers were very unhappy following disastrous returns this season. Discussions are taking place with industry and retailers to attempt to solve similar problems from happening next year. Proposals being made include, 1) to set an end date for selling the previous season’s maincrop stocks, and 2) to clearly identify the year of crop production on bags. Planting prospects for the 2010 crop remain uncertain, although there are indicators which could suggest the possibility of an increase in area.
Source: Euro Potato Dec 2009
| | | | | | Record yields boost fall potato output in the US
The Economic Research Service of the USDA recently released a comprehensive report on the 2009 potato crop in the US. Despite a cool, wet growing season in many areas (and substantial harvest delays in some places due to rain), the fall potato crop is expected to total 394.0 million hundredweight (cwt) — up 4 percent from a year earlier, but 2 percent below the 2003-07 average. With harvested area only slightly below a year ago, production was again boosted by a record-high yield of 429 cwt. This was up 4 percent from the previous record and was the sixth consecutive year that fall potato growers have managed to produce a record volume of spuds per acre.
Source: USDA/ERS
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| | | | | | Local production not meeting Bulgaria's demand for potatoes
Locally produced potatoes meet only half of the domestic demand in Bulgaria, the rest is provided by imports, said the chairman of the National Association of the Bulgarian Potato Producers, Ventsislav Kaymakanov. Bulgarian households buy about 500 000 tonnes of potatoes annually and 100 000 tonnes is sold to public consumers. This year the volume of local potato production amounted to 220,000 tonnes, Kaymakanov said. According to him, this year’s yield was slightly higher compared to 2008 (198 000 tonnes) due to weather conditions. The average yield is 2 200 - 2 800 kg/ha. The largest Bulgarian potato field - about 500 acres - is located in Samokov and Ihtimansky districts which are known as the traditional producer area of potatoes. Good yields were also observed in Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil areas, as well Vidin, Shumen, Dobrich and Lovech regions.
Source: Regal.bg
| | | | | | Ireland: IFA predicts wipeout for Donegal potato farmers
The freezing weather conditions of the last fortnight have had a devastating impact on potato producers, with initial estimates showing losses of over €15m on potato crops still in the ground. Donegal IFA County Chairman and potato grower William Monagle said 6,000 acres of potatoes across the country remain unharvested due to the disastrous wet weather in November and early December, and the frost in the last few weeks. Estimates by growers on the ground quantify that at least 75% of these crops will be lost to frost damage. Mr Monagle today described the situation as a wipeout for growers.
Source: Highland Radio
| | | | | | India: Plagued by fertiliser shortages, Uttar Pradesh potato farmers turn to oilseeds
Thousands of potato farmers in the potato belt of Uttar Pradesh have been forced to give up their traditional crop, owing to enormous fertiliser and Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) shortage, expensive seeds and irrigation problems this season. The potato prices had risen to giddy heights of Rs 1,800 per quintal during the sowing season, forcing the small and marginal peasants to search for alternative crops, being unable to afford such pricey seeds.
Source: Business Standard
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| | | | | | Total potato production in France this year to exceed 7,2 million tonnes
Total volume of potato production in France this year will amount to 7,210 million tones, according to official data of the local Ministry of Agriculture. These figures will be very close to a record crop in 2004 – 7,255 million tones. For the last six years potato harvest in France has only twice exceeded the level of 7 million tonnes in 2004 and 2007 years. In comparison, in 2008 potato crop totaled 6,808 million tonnes. According to initial estimates, nearly 5,178 million tonnes of the current crop will be used for human consumption, while the remaining 1,235 million tonnes in the production of potato starch. In total, in 2009, total potato cultivation area in France amounted to 162,400 hectares compared to 156,200 ha in 2008. This year, the average potato yield will exceeded 45,6 tonnes per ha compared to last year's volume of 44.46 tonnes/ha.
Source: Portalspozywczy.pl
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