P.E.I. aims to grow seed potato market in Algeria

A delegation of people representing P.E.I.'s potato industry returned this week from a trade mission to Algeria, hopeful about re-establishing markets for their products in that African country.

Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, said he was encouraged byt he trip.

"They have some aggressive targets to increase their production and, obviously, to do that they need good-quality seed,"he said.

"So that's where I think the opportunity is. They need good-quality seed and we have a long history on P.E.I. of growing potatoes and, in particular, seed."

No contracts were signed, but Donald is optimistic orders will eventually come.

P.E.I. will likely have to come up with some new seed varieties geared specifically for the Algerian market, he added.