Due to drought restricting the supply of fruit and vegetables in Papua New Guinea, the country has temporarily lifted the ban on the import of selected Australian fruits and vegetables for three months.
In recent weeks enough potatoes have left for export and there is a good demand for potatoes from the industry. "The market got through the ABC virus well," observes Adrie Kleinjan, of the eponymous potato trader, referencing the drop out of Africa,
Today’s potato planters work faster than ever before, with modern belt planters capable of operating at 10 to 12 km/hr - up to three times faster than conventional cup machines.
This year, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has released 16 new kinds of potatoes, with bright pink and purple being touted as the hot new fashion colours for potatoes in Spring 2016.
China will make potatoes their staple food within four years, in a big shift that aims to stop land, water and food shortages. It also aims to ensure basic food supply is available as the country’s population balloons to 1.3 billion by 2020.
According to potato industry officials 2015 was a slower year for sales of fresh Maine potatoes: sales volume were down 2.2 percent overall and the largest-selling russet burbank was down 3.2 percent, reports Nielsen FreshFacts data.
On February 18, David Thompson, President and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc. announced three new appointments to the WPC Board of Directors and International Advisory Committee.
Sources say the 2016 Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative contract will include new language mandating a minimum of two years of alternate crops between potatoes.
