Potato News from Canada

October 04, 2008

Manitoba potato harvest almost done

Potato Harvest is around three quarters complete in Manitoba according to the potato specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. Tom Gonsalves says producers in some areas are already finished while harvest is fully underway in other regions.He says importan...

October 02, 2008

P.E.I. potato growers up for AgriRecovery aid

Potato growers on Prince Edward Island affected by "extreme wet weather"can now share up to $12.4 million in federal/provincial aid through the AgriRecovery program.AgriRecovery, one of the programs under the federal government's Growing Forw...

October 01, 2008

Waste oil from French Fries fuelling Canadian world record attempt

In a world record breaking attempt, Canadians Cloe Whittaker (22) and Tyson Jerry (24) are taking a 45,000 Km road trip in a van powered by the waste oil from French fries.They will launch their Driven to Sustain adventure on Wednesday October 1 from M...

September 18, 2008

PEI Potato Board works with farmers to improve returns

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board held a news conference today to outline the initiatives it has taken to improve financial returns for potato farmers. Potato farmers have experienced severe financial losses over the past few years due to low price...

September 16, 2008

PEI Potato Board defends itself against allegations

The P.E.I. Potato Board came flying to its own defence and to the defence of big french fry companies Monday after a well-known Island farmer and agriculture activist accused the companies last week of undercutting potato prices and the board of being ...

September 12, 2008

P.E.I. potato growers accuse french fry companies of flooding market with cheap spuds

Big french fry companies are undercutting P.E.I. potato prices by flooding the open market with cheap potatoes, says an sland potato farmer and a potato marketer.Jim Read, of J.B. Read Marketing Inc., and Danny Henricken, whose family has been growing ...

September 09, 2008

Celebration marks opening of new McCain Foods potato processing plant in Florenceville

On a sunny afternoon in Florenceville-Bristol, McCain Foods officially opened its $65-million potato processing plant on Thursday, Sept. 4.The plant was announced in 2006 and began construction in the spring of 2007. It replaces the first factory ever ...

September 09, 2008

Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company receives government loan

The Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company, Carleton County’s newest tourism destination is receiving a half-a-million dollar boost from the federal government. The facility is on its way to a November opening.The Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company will es...

August 14, 2008

Seed potatoes now part of Canada's Dispute Resolution Corporation

The Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) can now handle disputes involving seed potatoes. The by-law change approved by members at the 2008 Annual Meeting took effect once approved by the Canadian Government which happened recently. Seed potatoes are...

August 01, 2008

Potato growers accept McCain contract

P.E.I. farmers who sell potatoes for processing to McCain Foods voted in favour of a new contract at a meeting Thursday night. Unlike those growing for Cavendish Farms, who rejected three contracts before signing, the McCain growers accepted the first...

July 30, 2008

Albert T. Wada, new World Potato Congress Inc. Director

Allan Parker, President &CEO, World Potato Congress Inc. today announced the appointment of Albert T. Wada as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Wada is the Chairman and CEO of Wada Farms Inc., an irrigated farming enterprise in eastern Idaho ...

July 27, 2008

McCain's $65-million plant begins production

A new $65-million potato processing plant began production on Tuesday at McCain Foods in Florenceville-Bristol. The state-of-the-art facility replaced the first factory ever built by the company more than 50 years ago. The new plant marks the end of a...

July 24, 2008

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 ...

July 23, 2008

McCain opens New Plant

A new $65-million state-of-the art potato processing plant began production July 22, replacing the first factory ever built by McCain Foods more than 50 years ago.

July 23, 2008

What is the healthier option?

Last week we were going to buy popcorn. OK, I admit, we do not only eat potato chips. We ended up to make a choice between two healthier options

July 23, 2008

McCain Foods (Canada) opens new Florenceville French fry factory

A new $65-million state-of-the art potato processing plant began production July 22, replacing the first factory ever built by McCain Foods more than 50 years ago. The plant, which has been under construction since the spring of 2007, uses the latest ...

July 20, 2008

P.E.I. potato farmers come closer to settling contract dispute with Cavendish Farms

Prince Edward Island potato growers may be one step closer to settling a contract dispute with Cavendish Farms. But they’ll have to wait until Wednesday to find out how close they’ve come.After nearly two weeks away from the table, the potato growers ...

July 18, 2008

Prairie spud growers enter convenience market with 'Todays Potatoes'

Two potato farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan are taking their produce directly to the heat-and-serve convenience food market. Barrich Farms of Outlook, Sask., about 90 km south of Saskatoon, and Bassano Growers at Bassano, Alta., about 140 km east o...