The fight to wipe out a potato disease from New Zealand has been lost.

It's easy to see what the small central North Island town of Ohakune is famous for. On the outskirts of the town is a huge carrot and a children's play area based on this popular vegetable.

The opportunities for the potato industry lie in a planned series of sustainable developments, says Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge.

The decision to keep the potato mop top virus in New Zealand may be better for the industry.

Biosecurity New Zealand is working with Potatoes NZ to respond to a detection of potato mop-top virus (PMTV) in potato tubers in Canterbury.

A potato virus has been found in Canterbury.

Three years ago fruit and vegetable trader T&G told Pukekohe growers about a potato with lower carbs and fewer calories, called Lotatoes.

'The potato problem is solved' is the bold claim of a Canterbury researcher who believes the industry can be transformed by simply growing potatoes under finely perforated plastic mesh covers.

Horticulture New Zealand has welcomed a decision by the Environmental Protection Authority to allow the release of the bug Tamarixia.

Food prices fell 0.5% in May 2016, following a 0.3% rise in April, Statistics New Zealand says.