A U.S. potato growers’ co-operative has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations that it violated antitrust law by acting as a cartel to raise prices. Under the deal, which was granted preliminary approval by a federal judge on June 17, the United Potato Growers of America and affiliated companies and organizations must pay $19.5 million to grocers and $5.5 million to consumers. The defendants have also agreed to cease any attempt to manage potato acreage prior to planting for seven years. It already appears, however, that the agreement won’t put the issue to rest. UPGA officials reported in June that one of the major plaintiffs, Kansas-based Associated Whole Grocers, will likely press forward with its own lawsuit rather than participating in the settlement.
Trending This Week
What Ignoring Your Stored Spuds Until the End of Harvest Could Cost You
Do you have bin management plan to support your potatoes from load-in through suberization?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked various producers...
Manitoba Storage Potato Harvest in Full Swing
The Manitoba potato harvest for storage is in full swing with about a third of potatoes having been harvested, the Sept. 15 provincial potato report...
North American Potato Research Bulletin: PAA Meeting Highlights
A highlight reel of the latest potato research projects presented at the 2023 PAA annual meeting.
Potato researchers across North America are working every day...
New Bayer Fungicides Receive Canadian Registration
Emesto Complete fungicide and insecticide seed-piece treatment and Velum Rise fungicide/nematicide have received registration in Canada, a Sept. 19 news release from Bayer Crop Science...
Ontario Storage Potato Harvest Well Underway
The harvest of the storage potato crop is in full swing near Alliston, Ont., a Sept. 21 email update from Eugenia Banks said.
"The area was...