Potato Review

POTATO REVIEW SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 35 GLOBAL NEWS NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE THE Edmore Potato Festival, a 50-year-tradition taking place in the US has been cancelled just a year after being resurrected, because of ongoing uncertainty stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Originally known as known as the Michigan State Potato Festival, the event was reinvented last year and was again set to take place this year, from September 11th to 13th. It features potato-related activities, including a potato derby, a mashed potato eating contest, and a potato soup cook-o, along with a parade, inflatables, a petting zoo and more. Canadian growers optimistic CANADIAN potato growers are feeling optimistic about the future, despite being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, it has been revealed. In Alberta, supplies were decimated in the spring because of Covid-19, but this has not stopped growers banking on a healthy harvest. In an interview with the Edmonton Journal, Russell Van Boom, who grows seed potatoes for farmers near Fort Saskatchewan, said he planted 90% of his crops this year compared to last. He was anticipating slower demand come harvest time after processing plants and restaurants were temporarily closed or operating at reduced capacity to comply with health orders. Executive director of Potato Growers of Alberta, Terrence Hochstein, said the pandemic has cost seed potato farmers in the province between $4.5 million and $5 million in lost revenue. Alberta’s processing industry in terms of french fry production has decreased about 20% this season compared to last, or approximately 7,500 acres. In April, the hit to the french fry market was closer to 80% while restaurants were forced to shut their doors. That decrease saw the industry urge Canadians to eat french fries at home to stop potatoes from going to waste. Terrence said seed growers had to calculate how hard they would get hit and plant accordingly. Potato processing plants are beginning to get back to full capacity and an increase in demand for ordering in or taking out food from restaurants has helped to oset some of the losses during the lockdown. e DECLINING consumption of potatoes in Australia was not enough reason to block the sale of Thomas Foods International’s potato packing business to fellow South Australian-based rival Mitolo, the national competition regulator has found. While competition within the potato market would reduce if Mitolo absorbed TFI’s packing and wholesale business, and a general slowing demand trend had created “di¡cult circumstances” for potato growers, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said most growers had other market options if unhappy about Mitolo’s conditions. The consumption decline would also continue to aect Australian growers regardless of whether the transaction went ahead. “Feedback from potato growers and other industry participants suggested if Mitolo sought to lower prices it paid growers, most producers would be able to switch to rival packing sheds,” said ACCC deputy chairman Mick Keogh. “Some would be able to swap to growing potatoes for processing into potato products.” Mitolo and TFI grow potatoes and operate packing sheds in SA, and overlap in the acquisition of some crops from third party growers, and the supply of washed potatoes to supermarkets and wholesalers. The 50-year-old Mitolo business grows potatoes and onions in SA and NSW for the wholesale markets around Australia, except Tasmania and Western Australia, although only acquires a small proportion of its needs from other growers. TFI, which is primarily a meat processor, supplies fresh washed potatoes for retail, wholesale and export channels, but buys a much bigger portion of its supplies from third party growers. The company branched into the potato business in 2013 when it bought Mondello Farms. Competition regulator approves sale of rival packer in Australia Popularity surge down under AUSTRALIA is seeing a surge in potato popularity, according to newest data. Of all vegetables, potatoes were the biggest contributor to growth by volume in the 12 weeks ending June 14th, according to research from Nielsen, which also found potato sales rose more than 13% over the same period. Meanwhile online searches for potatoes, potato bakes and soups at Australia’s food site, taste.com.au , were up 10%, compared with the same time last year. The potato’s popularity has been attributed to more people cooking more at home, adopting plant-rich diets and returning to comfort food. Resurrected festival cancelled