Posts Tagged “potato”
The Idaho Potato Commission’s latest marketing outreach promotes the nutritional benefits of eating potatoes, which are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B6 and dietary fiber, according to a news release.
“Idaho potatoes are one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the produce aisle. Not to mention they’re versatile and affordable, making them the ideal staple for busy families focused on eating healthy,” Jamey Higham, president and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission, said in the release.
According to the commission, here are the top 10 reasons to eat more potatoes:
- Idaho potatoes are the first vegetable to participate in the American Diabetes Association’s Better Choices For Life program.
- Potatoes’ versatility makes it a perfect vegetable to pair with many dishes.
- When cooked and cooled, potatoes develop resistant starch, a type of fiber that acts similarly to soluble fiber, promoting gut health and metabolic benefits.
- Thanks to a potato’s fiber content, it is a satisfying and filling food choice. Including potatoes in meals help consumers feel fuller for longer periods.
- Potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates, providing a sustained energy source without causing rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels.
- The American Heart Association certified potatoes as a heart-healthy food.
- Potatoes are rich in antioxidants and beneficial compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolic acids.
- Another way to increase potato consumption is through different cooking methods, such as steaming, roasting, baking or grilling.
- Potato skins offer a significant amount of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, vitamin C, and B vitamins.
- One potato has more potassium than a banana, which helps regulate blood pressure, nerve function and muscle contractions.
While total Florida spring produce volume is winding down, some other areas in the East are shipping, or will be soon.
Florida red potato shipments are about two weeks later than usual as a series of winter freezes and heavy spring rains damaged the crop and could cut yields by as much as 50% on the front end of the red potato season. Shipments got underway around Palatka, Fla. about the second week of May. South Florida red spud loadings finished up in mid-May around Lake Wales.
Watermelons shipments got off to a shaky start from Southern Florida, but quality has improved and product is coming in steady volume out of the Ft. Meyers and Arcadia areas. The harvest gradually moves northward over the next few weeks, before shifting to Georgia around June 15-20, about two weeks later than usual.
As Florida veggie loadings decline, the transition from central Florida to southern Georgia is bringing lighter-than-normal volume on some vegetables. which are behind two weeks or more due to weather.
Georgia bell peppers and cucumbers are still moving in light volume and decent shipments are not expected until early to mid-June. Squash and bean shipments from south Georgia are now ending.
Vidalia onions
While it was rough start for Vidalia onion shipments this year, with seed stem problems, better weather is making life easier for both shippers and truckers.
While no official crop estimates have been made, observers see total Vidalia onion loadings at around 4.5 million boxes this season.
Seed stem has adversely about 30% to 40% of Vidalia crops this year.
North Carolina
Sweet corn shipments should get under way in mid-June, at least two weeks later than normal. A similar situation exists with lettuce……Currently, cilantro and kale are being shipped.
South Georgia vegetables – grossing about $2600 to New York City.
Between now and August produce truckers will have the upper hand when it comes to freight rates – assuming you don’t have contract rates (but that’s another story).
Not only are we nearing the peak shipping season from California, which accounts for about half of the nation’s fresh produce, but other areas, particularly in the upper mid-west and east are providing competition for trucks.
Caution Hauling Desert Items
Before I get into the Salinas and San Joaquin Valley shipments, use caution loading desert vegetables such as bell peppers and corn as temperatures well above 100 degrees have been occurring. It’s been really hot in the Coachella and Imperial valleys, as well as Arizona’s Yuma district. Little or no report of heat damage has yet been reported but keep your eyes peeled for scalding and other heat symptoms in the days ahead. Even watermelons can suffer if prolonged heat occurs.
Salinas Valley
Dozens of different kinds of vegetables are being shipped from the Salinas area. But the big volume items are various types of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower. There also is decent volume with brussel sprouts and celery. Nearby Castroville is the artichoke capital of the world, while nearby Watsonville is ground zero for strawberry shipments.
San Joaquin Valley
This report will focus primarily on summer from from the SJV. We’ll soon cover the many vegetables coming into volume.
Stone fruit, led by peaches, plums and nectarines, are just getting underway from the southern part of the valley.
The consensus appear to be that around 40 to 43 million boxes of stone fruit will be shipped this year from the San Joaquin Valley, which would be pretty average when looking at the volume for the past five years.
California cherry shipments are building and hitting good volume just prior to the Memorial weekend (May 25-27). However, winds damaged 40 to 50% of the early variety Rainier cherries around Bakersfield on May 5th.
There also was some wind damage to almond trees in the Bakersfield area.
Last year, California shipped a record 101.5 milion boxes of grapes. The Coachella Valley, which is shipping now, accounts for 10 percent or less of this volume. The rest comes from the San Joaquin Valley, starting with the Arvin District in late June.
Apple shipments, which took at 30 percent hit last year, are expected to return to normal this year. Beginning in July, California apple shipments get underway, but this is minor (2 million boxes) compared to Washington state (129 million boxes predicted).
Kern District
Located near Bakersfield, Kern County ships a lot carrots and potatoes, althouigh this time of the year you will get a better freight rate hauling more perishable items ranging from lettuce to stone fruit, grapes and berries.
Kern County potatoes shipments started about a week ago. Due to so much over production of russet potatoes around the country, this variety has been reduced by up to 75 percent. Russets have been replaced primarily with red, yellow and white potatoes.
When Kern County growers are not planting carrots or potatoes in their fields, they use bell peppers as a rotation crop. Bell peppers loadings are just starting and building in volume, continuing until November.
Salinas vegetables – grossing about $5200 to Chicago.
California desert vegetables – about $7300 to New York City.
While overall food prices rose slightly in September, fresh produce prices actually declined.
According the Consumer Price Index issued by The Commerce Department, there was a .4 percent drop in fruit and vegetables prices in September, comapred to August. This resules from a .9 percent drop in frest fruit prices. September overall consumer food prices were .1 percent higher, following a .2 percent increase in August.
The USA average retail price in September for fresh oranges was $1.30 per pound, down from $1.44 per pound in September 2011. The red delicious apple USA average retail price in September was $1.53 per pound, up from $1.51 per pound this time last year. The average retail banana price was 60 cents, down from 61 cents per pound at the same time a year ago.
Fresh vegetable prices increased .8 percent in September compared with August. However the Commerce Department said the fresh vegetable index is still 4.9 percent below year-ago levels.
Fresh potato prices in September were down 1.9 percent from August and 13.6 percent below 2011 levels. Retail prices for lettuce were up 1.1 percent above August but 3.4 percent down from 2011, the report read.
While fresh tomato prices in September were up 2.9 percent from the previous month, it was 4.9 percent lower than a year ago. levels. The average retail price for tomatoes in September was $1.38 per pound, down from $1.50 per pound the same time a year ago, according to the report.
Atlanta, GA – As part of its cross-country tour, the Great Big Idaho® Potato 
Truck spent a few days enjoying the southern hospitality in Atlanta, Ga. One of its first stops was the Atlanta Food Truck Park on 1850 Howell Mill Road. Lunchtime visitors had an opportunity to view this “spudtacular” vehicle and four local Meals On Wheels agencies received a total of 350,000 servings of Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, ready-to-serve, dehydrated potato products.
The Idaho Potato Commission built the truck, a larger-than-life version of the vintage Idaho potato postcard, in celebration of its milestone 75th Anniversary. Weighing in at six tons (the equivalent of 32,346 medium-sized Idaho® potatoes), the Great Big Idaho® Potato is traversing the country to greet fans and to help raise funds and awareness for the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), the oldest and largest national organization dedicated to helping end senior hunger.
“Idaho® potatoes generate more than $4 billion dollars in revenue annually and employ more than 30,000 people. Agriculture and potatoes in particular are the primary reasons Idaho is among the most fiscally sound states in the nation,” explained Frank Muir, president and CEO, IPC.
The Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck made its national debut at the Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho last December when ESPN prominently featured it several times during the game. Since then, the Truck has made several public appearances and at every venue, the most frequently asked question is: “Is it real?” We’ll never tell, but consider that the Great Big Idaho® Potato…
* Would take more than 10,000 years to grow.
* Is 1,102 times heavier than the largest potato ever grown, which weighed 11 pounds.
* Would take two years and nine months to bake.
* Could make 30,325 servings of mashed potatoes and more than 1.4 million (1,455,570) average-sized fries!
The Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck was created and built by Chris Schofield and Sharolyn Spruce of Weiser, Idaho. With the help of a few specialized contractors, they spent an entire year designing and building this incredible vehicle. The Kenworth Sales Company and Western Trailer, both based in Boise, Idaho, also aided with the construction.
To find out when the Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck will be in a city near you, please visit www.bigidahopotato.com. The website provides in-depth information about the Truck, the IPC’s partnership with MOWAA and is updated regularly with tales and photos from the road.
Source: Idaho Potato Commission