Cavendish Farms Potato suppliers accept new contract

Cavendish Farms producers voted “overwhelmingly yes’’ Wednesday (July 23) to accept the latest offer from the Irving-owned company, but many look to the future with concern. 

It was the fourth meeting for the approximately 180 growers on Prince Edward Island who have a contract with the New Annan french fry company. 

About 80 per cent of them showed up for the meeting, said Scott Howatt, chair of the PEI Potato Processing Council. Howatt said he was not prepared to release details of the offer, other than to say it is better than the previous one. 

On July 2 local growers rejected that offer which would have given them 60 cents more than last year, plus 15 cents more for the quality incentive, making the price around $9.25 per hundredweight. 

“There is an increase in the base;there are some language changes and there is also a transportation compensation package there to help folks with rising costs of getting their crop to the processing plants,’’ said Howatt for the new, accepted contract.