Potato News from Prince Edward Island

The Prince Edward Island potato industry is reeling today from the announcement that McCain Foods will close its Borden-Carleton French fry facility as of October 31, 2014.

McCain Foods Canada is closing its Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island french fry facility as of Oct. 31, directly affecting 121 people.

The hot weather that has struck Prince Edward Island this summer is making farmers nervous as harvest season draws nearer.

Concerns over the quality of the waste water from a potato wash facility has resulted in the P.E.I. Department of Environment shutting down the operation.

David Thompson, President and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc. announced today the appointment of Dr. Peter VanderZaag, President: SunRISE Potato Ltd, Alliston, Ontario, Canada, to the organization’s International Advisory Committee

David Thompson, President & CEO, World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC Inc.) has announced the appointment of Mr. Ron Gall, New Zealand; Dr. Nora Olsen, USA; and Anne Fowlie, Canada; as members of the Board of Directors.

You might know that Prince Edward Island potatoes are world famous and you might even know why – the iron-rich red soil exclusive to the Island. But I think that there is another reason why our potatoes are the best- the passion of our farmers.

Two of the most powerful voices in P.E.I.s billion dollar potato industry appeared before the Legislature's agriculture committee Thursday in Charlottetown.

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board signs on as a partner in Farm Credit Canada’s successful Agriculture More Than Ever program.

Prince Edward Island process potato farmers who grow for McCain Foods have a new contract. The deal was reached in last-minute negotiations before it actually had to go to arbitration.

Everyone knows that burgers and fries are best friends, making it an easy decision for the Prince Edward Island Potato Board to be a partner in the 2014 edition of PEI Burger Love (www.peiburgerlove.ca).

Bob Vernon, an Agriculture Canada scientist, spoke to about 300 farmers on Prince Edward Island on wireworm, a pest he's been researching for 20 years.

Prince Edward Island Potato Packer W.P. Griffin will get a combined investment of $372,490 from the provincial and federal governments to purchase new weighing and bagging equipment.

The International Potato Technology Expo (IPTE) returns to the Eastlink Centre (formerly known as the Charlottetown Civic Centre) on February 21-22, 2014.

The potato harvest in Prince Edward Island is complete and world-famous Prince Edward Island Potatoes are appearing on supermarket shelves and restaurant menus across Canada and the northeastern United States.

Sobeys in Atlantic Canada has introduced a new colour-coded scheme in an attempt to market some Prince Edward Island potatoes.

Potato farming in Prince Edward Island continues to be primarily the domain of family owned and operated farms. 99% of potato farms in PEI are owned by farm families, with some of these families involved in growing potatoes for over 100 years!

With summer entertaining just around the corner, Olympic Gold Medalist Heather Moyse is urging Canadians to look beyond the traditional potato salad, and get more creative when cooking their spuds - think potato chocolate cake!