News
WSPC elects new leaders
The Washington State Potato Commission elected Bob Halverson, of Toppenish, as chairman beginning July 1, 2012. Halverson replaced Darrin Morrison as commission chairman.Also elected to the WSPC executive committee are Jared Balcom, of Pasco, 1st vi... more
House coalition urge repeal of WIC ban
A bipartisan coalition of 93 members of the House of Representatives called on USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to reverse his department's decision to ban fresh, white potatoes from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program. Th... more
New packing shed in San Luis Valley
Sheldon Rockey, of Rockey Farms in Center, Colo., and Paul New, of White Mountain Farm, in Mosca, Colo., have announced plans to transform the old Sangre de Christo High School in Mosca into White Rock Specialist, LLC. The facility will be a state-o... more
Holterhoff joins WSPC
Ryan Holterhoff is the new director of marketing and industry affairs for the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC). Holterhoff's responsibilities include working with various state potato organizations, growers, agricultural groups, private c... more
APRE launches website
The Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) has launched its website at www.apre.org. APRE is a not-for-profit research and education organization dedicated to expanding and translating research into science-based policy and education init... more
Syngenta offers college scholarship
For the third year in a row, the $5,000 Syngenta Potato Scholarship program is open to students who currently reside or attend school in Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington or Wisconsin. Applicants must meet one of the... more
Mexico joins TPP
Potato industry leaders across the United States are applauding the announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon to include Mexico in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. A National Pot... more
Psyllids found in Columbia Basin potato fields
Two potato psyllids have been found in commercial potato fields in the lower Columbia Basin, according to a report by Silvia Rondon, Oregon State University Extension entomologist specialist. One psyllid was found in the Irrigon, Ore., area and the... more
Temporary closure of McCain plants
McCain Foods has announced a temporary shutdown of its plants in Grand Falls and Florenceville, New Brunswick; Carberry and Portage la Prairie, Manitoba; and Prince Edward Island due to a shortage of raw potatoes. The shutdowns will last between two... more
SIPCO elects officers
Members of the Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative (SIPCO) have elected new officers. Mark Darrington, of Declo, was elected president; Ritchey Toevs, of Aberdeen, was elected vice-president; and Milo Call, of Coldwater, was elected secretary/treasure... more
