Potato News from Canada

September 16, 2010

Pressure on Canadian government for limits on salt in food

Canada's provincial health ministers are ordering up mandatory sodium limits for packaged and prepared foods if voluntary measures don't shake out as hoped -- and are urging Ottawa to adopt the new targets.

September 14, 2010

Pass the potato chips: Canadians snacking more than Americans.

According to Snacking in Canada, a recent study by leading market research company The NPD Group, Canadians, on average, eat more snack meals than their neighbours south of the border, and hold a more positive view of snacking, overall. The report, whi...

September 07, 2010

Heat wave takes toll on New Brunswick potato crop

After what was an almost perfect beginning to the growing season, the recent spell of prolonged high temperatures and dry conditions have been an obstacle for potato growers.

September 06, 2010

Cavendish Farms buys breeding rights 'Prospect', an eco-friendly potato variety

Cavendish Farms has purchased the breeding rights for "Prospect", a potato variety it says is suitable for French fries and good for the environment.It's the first time the Prince Edward Island company has bought the rights to an entire vari...

September 03, 2010

Potato and French Fry exports Prince Edward Island down - a lot

According to APEC (Atlantic Provinces Economic Council), Prince Edward Islands exports of frozen french fries are down 20 per cent, while exports of fresh potatoes are down 25 per cent.

September 02, 2010

McCain Florenceville fry plant`s air quality approval subject to public review

The government of New Brunswick announced the start of a 180-day public participation process to renew the air quality operating approval for McCain Foods (Canada) frozen food plant in Florenceville has begun.

August 26, 2010

Gorman controls receives government support for storage monitoring project

Gorman Controls Inc., a Prince Edward Island based company, received support from the Rural Broadband Fund for a project to develop a storage controller.

August 25, 2010

New Brunswick potato growers receive assistance for storage losses

New Brunswick potato growers will receive up to $3 million to help offset the extra costs of cleaning and disinfection of storage facilities and disposing of ruined product following a difficult growing season in 2009. The announcement was made today ...

August 19, 2010

PEI Potato board welcomes decision Tribunal in potato contracts appeal

In a dispute around the process for the establishment of potato contracts between potato growers and processors, a decision has been reached by the Natural Products Appeals Tribunal. The decision provides a unique insight in the negotiation process o...

August 18, 2010

Manitoba started processing new crop potatoes

In Manitoba, harvest of processing potatoes is underway.

August 10, 2010

No change in PEI Potato board rules for negotiating contracts

A tribunal ruling allowing the P.E.I. Potato Board to set the rules for negotiating contracts between potato processors and farmers is a victory for growers, says the board.   The rules were designed to put in place a process that would ensure a c...

August 09, 2010

Frito Lay Canada invests in Quality, Environmental Sustainability in New Minas

Frito-Lay Canada, a division of PepsiCo Canada, is investing more than $2 million in its New Minas (Nova Scotia) operations to upgrade production equipment and make the facility more environmentally sustainable.

Announcement of expansion of Hartland Potato chip compamany

August 05, 2010

Old Dutch Foods expands Hartland potato chips plant with NB government support

Old Dutch Foods will expand their Hartland plant with support of a $15-million loan of the New Brunswick government.The New Brunswick governement is investing in Old Dutch Foods Ltd. to help it expand its operations in New Brunswick and add 40 jobs to ...

July 29, 2010

Federal Task Force presents plan to cut Canada’s salt intake

A federal task force has delivered a plan to cut Canada’s salt habit to a teaspoon a day – a change that could save tens of thousands of lives a year – but insiders fear it has only tepid support from government and the food industry.The long-awaited r...

July 27, 2010

P.E.I. Potato Board courts Algerian industry leaders

The P.E.I. Potato Board is wooing an old friend in an effort to create new business opportunities for Island farmers.The board is hosting a delegation of industry leaders from Algeria.The Algerian delegation is in the province now. They are planning to...

July 17, 2010

PEI Potato Contract hearing wrapped up

A hearing over how Cavendish Farms negotiates potato contracts with P.E.I. growers wrapped up Thursday.Cavendish Farms, an Irving-owned company, appealed a decision by the P.E.I. Potato Board.The board had approved an order in December that required pr...

July 15, 2010

PEI Potato Crop ahead of schedule

Good growing conditions this spring and summer have put the P.E.I. potato crop more than a week ahead of schedule. Potato Board chair Boyde Rose said there was some damage from heavy rain a few weeks ago, affecting one to two per cent of the crop, bu...

July 12, 2010

Evolución del brote de tizón tardío en Canadá

Los productores de papa de la Provincia de Manitoba están considerando cambiar a un ciclo más corto de pulverización de fungicidas si el tizón tardío continúa apareciendo en los campos de cultivo de la región. Vikram Bisht, patólogo vegetal de la Inic...