"It is depressing news,"said Cary Hoffman of the United Potato Growers of North America.
"Our hope right now is to try to make sure that this oversupply of potatoes for this season doesn't impact next season's crops."
For several years now, P.E.I. growers have agreed to cut back on production in an effort to manage supply, an effort supported in previous years by growers in other regions but not so successful in 2009. Growers in Idaho overproduced by 10 million hundred-pound bags.
Farmers also heard that people just aren't eating as many potatoes as they used to, either at home or at restaurants. In addition, the high Canadian dollar is making exports more difficult.
Island farmers will likely agree once again this year to plant fewer potatoes, and hope others will follow their example.
A similar meeting was held for New Brunswick farmers on Feberuary 17.
