Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists field-tested* a new trap last summer that is designed to disrupt the mating of Asian citrus psyllids (pictured below. These pinhead-sized invasive insects transmit citrus greening, a devastating citrus disease. Many insect traps use pheromones — chemical attractants — to control crop-damaging insects. At low concentrations, pheromones lure the pests…
The 8th Annual Potatoes NZ Charitable Trust Golf tournament was held at Methven Golf Club on Friday 26 May. It was a glorious day and a very pleasant afternoon for the golf. The event is scheduled for the end of May because by then all harvesting should be well & truly over. Well not this…
Niki Bezzant discusses her quest to make the perfect roast potatoes… Perfect roast potatoes. Few food topics I’ve posted on my Facebook page have elicited such adamant and varying opinions. It occurred to me during recent heated discussions on this that I was lucky my Facebook friends were not all in one place; people were really very exercised. I wonder:…
Rural Holidays have contacted us asking for assistance with potato farm visits for a group of Japanese tourists. They are interested in a technical visit to understand more about potato growing in New Zealand. There is a group wanting to visit potato farms in the wider Christchurch are on 14-15 August. If you are willing to…
Tomato potato psyllid (TPP) cannot be eradicated from Western Australia, according to a national management group working on the pest. Department of Agriculture and Food WA executive director of biosecurity and regulation, Kevin Chennell, said the market restrictions would remain in place for some time. Full article available here
Chef looking for supplier of Pink Fir Apple Potatoes… Hello I am head chef at La Bella Italia in Wellington. Can you please send me in the right direction for PFA potatoes or suggest a grower that I could contact directly? Thanks, Jonathan 02102615094 Home
Volume 72, Issue No. 04 This issue features the following Potatoes NZ Inc. articles: Playing catch-up Dickeya solani not such a big issue Residue compliance 90 years of seed potato certification Chip Group update Martin Snedden tops conference agenda Update for exporters to Fiji Fry clouds gather New rulebook & seedlines info World trade value…
Niki Bezzant is a writer, speaker, editor and commentator. She is passionate about food, healthy eating and food culture, marketing and policy. As founding editor (former editor-at-large) of Healthy Food Guide magazine, a columnist for the Herald on Sunday and a frequent contributor to broadcast media, she has extensive knowledge of modern media and consumer attitudes…
With a string of awards to his name, including the countries highest accolades for comedy, Te Radar is one of New Zealand’s most recognised comedians and personalities. Under his trademark strawberry-blond mop lurks an astute mind that has created award-winning comedy shows, and TV documentaries for the past two decades. Te Radar has a keen…
New and aggressive dickeya pathogen has US potato industry searching for answers… Article by Melanie App – Spudman magazine, America In 2015, Dickeya dianthicola, a new blackleg pathogen, emerged in the eastern United States, causing significant yield loss. Dickeya is an aggressive pathogen that can travel long distances. Since first emerging, the pathogen has spread…