Kevin MacIsaac new General Manager United Potato Growers of Canada

United Potato Growers of Canada has hired a potato industry veteran as its new General Manager. Kevin MacIsaac, of Bear River, Prince Edward Island will join United in this senior role, effective Monday, October 3rd.

Along with his brother, Kevin has owned and operated a family farm for over twenty five years, producing seed, tablestock and processing potatoes in rotation with soybeans, canola and other crops. A graduate of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the University of Guelph, Kevin served as a Field Crops Specialist with the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture prior to returning to the family farm.

Kevin has been involved with many agricultural and community organizations over the years, including the Potato Producers' Association, the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the Island Grain and Protein Council, the Souris River Watershed group, and his Parish Council.
He served two terms as the Chair of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board, and was a director for six years.

Kevin was an Atlantic finalist in Canada's Outstanding Young Farmer Program, and his farm has received numerous awards, including the Soil Conservationist of the Year Award for cash crop producers (2007);a Cavendish Farms Top 10 Grower award (2007);the Gilbert R. Clements Award for Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture (2009);and the Lieutenant Governor's Greenwing Conservation Award (sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Canada). Kevin also received a 25 Year Service Award from the Canadian Seed Growers Association in 2010.

United Potato Growers of Canada Chairman Ray Keenan cited Kevin's in-depth industry knowledge and experience, integrity and leadership skills as being key factors in the Board's hiring decision. "Kevin's skill set and practical approach, along with his respect for growers and the challenges we face, make him the ideal candidate for our General Manager position. We know he will contribute immediately to our key initiatives, such as the development of a Grower Return Index across the country, and the 2012 United Potato Partners Program seminars which will held across Canada, beginning in January, 2012."

Kevin's decision to stop growing potatoes in 2011 allowed him to accept other challenges. "I feel strongly that growers can achieve more when we work together on issues of common interest,"said Kevin MacIsaac. "United Potato Growers of Canada's goal of providing accurate potato production and marketing information is a simple one, but it has huge potential to help improve the viability of Canadian potato farms, and to ensure we are producing what consumers, retailers, processors and food service operators need. I'm eager to work with growers from right across Canada to build on the progress that's been made to date."

Prior to Kevin joining UPGC, Mark Drouin of Ottawa served as General Manager on a part-time basis. Mark decided to return to the federal government this fall.