Potato Review

38 POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 INTERNATIONAL NEWS Demand strong for Manitoba potatoes THIS year’s crop in Manitoba, Canada, is good quality despite yields being negatively impacted for a second year. Larry McIntosh of Peak of the Market in Winnipeg, Manitoba, said the sizing of the potatoes is good, especially on yellows and reds. At the same time, demand for potatoes is strong and pricing is even. Product recall in Canada MISS Vickie’s Canada is recalling certain Miss Vickie’s brand Kettle Cooked Potato Chips from the marketplace owing to possible presence of pieces of glass. Consumers are advised not to consume and retailers, restaurants, and institutions should not sell or use the recalled products, which have been sold in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec as well as through internet sales. For a full list of the recalled products, visit https://bit.ly/38eYi8Q. US imports up by 19% Potatoes USA has reported that US potato imports for the first quarter of the July 2020 – June 2021 marketing year increased by 19%. The marketing and researh organisation said the overall increase resulted from a 28% increase in fresh potatoes from Canada, a 20% increase in frozen potatoes, also mainly from Canada, and increasing imports from the EU. Imports of dehydrated potatoes saw a 9% decline, although potato chip imports increased by 17%. The increase in fresh potato imports appears mainly for the retail market on the east coast, with Canadian potatoes benefiting from the exchange rate diœerential and freight advantages. Canada accounts for 90% of all frozen fry imports, but Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany are gaining market share. Imports of frozen potatoes from Canada increased 17% in the first quarter while imports from Belgium were up 119%, the Netherlands up 35%, and Germany up 110%. Much of this product is destined for retail channels, but some enters the low-priced foodservice market on the east coast. Chip queen honored MISTER Bee CEO Mary Anne Ketelsen has been honored as one of West Virginia’s 2020 “Wonder Women” by WV Living, a lifestyle and travel magazine in the Mountain State, for her ongoing commitment to the area’s economic development and social programs. The annual event recognises influential women driving change through hard work and “roll-up-your-sleeves Mountain State spirit”. Mary Anne, who leads the state’s sole chip manufacturer, joins the ranks of 50 inspiring women who are blazing trails in their industries and communities. She brought 30 years of plant experience with her when she purchased Mister Bee and has carried out every job in the plant to set it up for success. Ketelsen’s Wonder Woman qualities extend outside the hive as well. She is a passionate member of the United Service Organizations (USO)-Metropolitan of Washington-Baltimore, and supports a range of non-profits and charities, including the Sheltered Workshop, Girls Clubs of America, and Girls Night Out with the YWCA. New potato snackmarks Japanese chain’s anniversary ONE of Japan’s most successful ramen chains Ippudo is celebrating its 35th anniversary with the launch of ramen-flavored potato chips. The Hakata-Fukuoka-founded restaurant is rolling out a flavor based on its signature tonkotsu pork stock ramen. Ippudo has teamed up with Yamayoshi Seika to produce the snack: Ippudo Shiromaru Motoaji Potato Chips. The snack is named after Ippudo’s original Shiromaru ramen, recreating its broth and aroma. The snack’s packaging reflects the signature dish — a picture of the ramen placed over a clear white background. Ippudo’s logo is stamped at the center of the bag, just above an image of two chips resting over one another. Improving and innovating production inMozambique A first pilot using True Potato Seed (TPS) in Angonia District, Tete province in Mozambique, conducted by Solidaridad and Solynta shows great potential to drastically improve and innovate potato production in Mozambique. Between August 2019 and April 2020 Solidaridad Mozambique and Solynta executed the first hybrid TPS field trial ever in Mozambique, growing potatoes from true seeds rather than traditional seed potatoes. The seedlings were raised in trays for six weeks, after which they were transplanted to farmers’ fields. Solynta provided several hybrid seed varieties to assess adaptability as well as technical advice. Solidaridad Mozambique trained and supported farmers in applying good farming practices, including soil management, fertilizing and crop protection. Several local institutions, such as Universidade Unizambezi, supported this initiative. Potato production in Sub-Saharan Africa has more than doubled during the last 20 years to around 16 mln metric tons on 2 mln ha. Angonia in the western part of Mozambique is the main potato production region in that country, with around 63,000 farmers producing around 90% of the Mozambican potatoes. As in most other African countries, potato consumption in Mozambique is increasing rapidly. Solynta’s innovation of hybrid potatoes makes it possible to distribute new varieties from botanic seed instead of seed potatoes. This technology makes it possible to rapidly develop new potato varieties with a higher nutritional value and attuned to specific local or regional needs, for example resistance to drought and certain diseases.