McCain Foods (Canada) names Super Farms Potato Ltd Champion grower for Grand Falls Factory

Super Farms Potato Ltd of Saint-André was named the 2015-2016 McCain Champion Potato Grower for Grand Falls during the 42nd annual McCain Growers’ Banquet held August 23 at Centre E.& P. Sénéchal.

Almost 200 guests gathered to celebrate the top growers and their achievements. Allison McCain, Chairman of McCain Foods Limited, Dale McCarthy, VP Integrated Supply Chain NA, and Christine Wentworth, VP Agriculture NA were on hand to extend personal congratulations to Super Farms Potato Ltd. and all of the McCain growers.

In his address to the group, McCain said he is “excited about agriculture, and particularly our agriculture.”

Allison McCain, Chairman of McCain Foods Limited:
 

“Potatoes in particular are an important crop in Canada, and they are a big export crop. The industry, including ourselves here in Canada, is built on export. 60% of what we produce is exported either to the US or elsewhere and we’re up against some pretty big competitors in the US and in Europe.”

“But I am optimistic about what can happen here.”

“Potatoes are a driver of jobs and prosperity and we are particularly poised for great success in New Brunswick.”

“I am proud to be here tonight to recognize that and celebrate the hard work and success of each of our growers.”

All speakers expressed their appreciation to the hard-working and dedicated growers gathered at the event.

Master of ceremonies for the evening was Luc Côté, Field Department Manager. Nathalie Leclerc, Potato Buyer/Scheduler, announced the Top 10 winners. Other McCain personnel on hand to congratulate the growers included Stephen McCain, Managing Director, McCain Produce, David Good, Director of Agriculture, Supplier Relations NA, French Fry Plant Manager Andrew Jay, and Field Representative Josée Bernard.
 

Super Farms Potato Ltd. of Saint-André was named the 2015-2016 McCain Champion Potato Grower for Grand Falls.

Front Row, L-R: André Levesque, Jean-Guy Levesque.
Back Row, L-R: Luc Coté, Field Department Manager, Allison McCain, Chairman, McCain Foods Limited, Luc Levesque, Jules Levesque, Christine Wentworth, VP Agriculture NA, Dale McCarthy, VP Integrated Supply Chain NA.

Other special guests included Kevin McCully, Director, Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Marcel Deschenes, Grand Falls Mayor, France Roussel, Drummond Mayor, Allain Desjardins, Saint-André Mayor and Miss Grand Falls, Maithe Lavoie.

Jean-Guy Levesque, with sons Jules and Luc, and grandson, André were completely surprised when announced as the Champion Grower, receiving a trophy, a $1,000 cheque and an all-expense-paid trip for two to a destination of choice.

The Levesque family has been contracting with McCain for forty-three years, has been in the Top 10 thirteen times, but this was their first time winning the Champion Grower title.

Luc Levesque attributed their success to “working very hard” and his partner, Hugette Michaud, said they “always put their heart into it.”

The family was especially delighted to win this year, as Jean-Guy was able to attend the event. Last year he was hospitalized and not even expected to live, so to have him at the event to celebrate the win made it extra-special.

Luc Levesque:
 

“We are proud to be going into our fourth generation of farming.”

“We always try to be number one, but it’s great to win the title this year.”

The third annual Yield Contest Award winner was Les Fermes Bernard & Gérard Levesque, with a yield of 525 hundredweight per acre, as announced by Josée Bernard.

The runner-up was Luc Ouellette & Fils, coming in at 483 hundredweight per acre. This award is given to growers who produce the highest-yielding fields and share best management practices with the grower group.
 

(Click to enlarge)

Front Row, L-R : Gildor Roberge, André Levesque, Luc Levesque, Jean-Guy Levesque, Jules Levesque, Lionel Poitras, André Levesque, Mario Levesque.

Middle Row, L-R : Andrew Jay, Grand Falls Plant Manager, Allison McCain, Chairman, McCain Foods Limited, Luc Coté, Field Department Manager, Paul Levesque, Marc Theriault, Lise Levesque, Michel Levesque, Aline Desjardins, Gilles Desjardins, Joseé Bernard, Field Representative, Christine Wentworth, VP Agriculture NA, David Good, Director of Agriculture, Supplier Relations NA.

Back Row, L-R : Gilles Godbout, Mathieu Godbout, Luc Roberge, David Levesque, Angelo Levesque, André Poitras, Paul Poitras, Nathalie Leclerc, Buyer/Scheduler, Alyre Poitras, Mario Desjardins, Leonide Ouellette, Dale McCarthy, VP Integrated Supply Chain NA.

For the Top 10 awards, potatoes are rated throughout the year on a variety of factors including size, gravity, defect level and colour and awarded points accordingly. At the end of each crop year, the top 10 growers are determined based on their overall scores.

The other growers who qualified for the top 10 roster, in order of final standing were: Les Fermes LP Theriault (Marc Theriault – Drummond), GIL Roberge Ltd. (Guildor and Luc Roberge – Saint-André), Northwest Potato Farms (Michel & Lise Levesque – Saint-André), Gilles Desjardins Co. Ltd. (Gilles Desjardins – Drummond), Eagle Farms 2006 Ltd. (Gilles and Mathieu Godbout – Saint-André), Les Fermes Lionel & Alyre Poitras (Lionel, Alyre and Paul Poitras – Saint-André), Valley Farms GF (Leonide Ouellette and Mario Desjardins – Grand Falls), Les Fermes PL Levesque Ltd. (Paul, Angelo and David Levesque – Saint-André), Les Fermes Mario Levesque (Mario and André Levesque – Saint-André).

Each received a plaque and a $1,000 cheque for their accomplishment.