Potato News from Prince Edward Island

The World Potato Congress Inc.'s (WPC) Board of Directors is very pleased to announce Mr. Willie Jacobs as its newest International Advisor from South Africa.

The potato crop in Canada is in varying stages - from emergence to touching between rows. Potato growers everywhere are optimistic for the good growing conditions needed to move this crop in its early life stages.

The United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC) provide an update on the potato planting in Canada (May 27, 2021). Seeding in Western Canada is winding up, while growers in the Atlantic region are in full planting mode.

HZPC Americas announced that the company recently hired Jill Herold as a Key Account Manager. Jill brings over 18 years of experience in technical agronomy in potatoes, corn, soybean and other various crops, including several years focused on sustainability.

Potato acreage in Canada will not be officially reported until early July, so it is often helpful to take an early look at industry projections across the country. The analysis is more difficult this year as demand for potato products returns to pre-COVID levels.

CMP's President Trevor Spinney has been named one of Atlantic Canada's Top 50 CEOs for 2021 by Atlantic Business Magazine.

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is excited to share with potato farmers and industry partners the launch of a new podcast, Spudchat.

Three awards were presented to well deserving industry members at the Prince Edward Island Potato Board’s monthly meeting in March 2021. In addition, the award winners will be recognized at the PEI Board Annual Banquet in 2022.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has lifted its voluntary suspension of export certification for P.E.I. seed potatoes, allowing trade to the United States to resume.

Seed potato exports from Prince Edward Island to the United States halted last fall now closer to resuming.

HZPC Americas Corp. hired Aron Derbidge as Sales and Key Account Manager. According to a press release issued today, the company notes that Aron brings with him over 10 years of experience developing and marketing seed potatoes in the U.S. and Canada.

The owners of a potato facility in New Annan confirm they will not dispute a CAD 1,000 fine they received following a spill of waste water at the end of 2020.

PEI Potatoes will be on the small screen once again this year, with a brand new message and commercial. 'Made to Enjoy' is a new approach for PEI Potatoes, aimed more at the end consumer than our previous campaigns.

Potato Production in Canada for the year 2020, is estimated at 104,203,000 hundredweight. This is down 1.4 million hundredweight or 1.3 percent below de production in 2019.

In humid climates, there is a high risk of topsoil loss from erosion on bare soil as well as nitrogen from fertilizers leaking or leaching from the soil into water sources, which can cause groundwater pollution.

Wayne Townshend has been named chairman. Townshend has been on the board for five years serving as a seed director.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recently confirmed the presence of potato wart in two fields on a farm in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Potato wart is a regulated quarantine pest in Canada.

Potato harvest in Canada is complete in most provinces with the exception of Quebec, according to this final crop report of the season prepared by the United Potato Growers of Canada