March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

P.E.I. potato industry on upswing

CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island — Prince Edward Island is back as a world player in seed potatoes, quickly overcoming a disastrous two years created by the PVY-n crisis.

A vigorous seed market this fall mirrors some of the strongest tablestock and processing prices in Island history, an industry analyst said Wednesday.

“There seems to be no fear and there shouldn’t be for seed buyers,” said Harry Fraser, editor of Fraser’s Potato Newsletter. “Seed prices are good. They are strong.”

Fears about PVY-n sharply reduced P.E.I. potato sales after the virus was found in Island fields in 1991.

Eradication efforts, additional testing which disproved much of the Agriculture Canada results, and intensive promotions have restored confidence in P.E.I. potatoes.

“We’re getting our traditional markets back in Canada and the United States,” Fraser said. “Any buyer and user knows that PVY-n was a political paper issue and not a potato issue.”

In 1991, the United States banned imports of seed potatoes from parts of provinces infected with PVY-n, a virus that doesn’t harm potatoes but can destroy other crops such as tobacco, tomatoes and peppers. It is transmitted by flying aphids.

The ban was lifted this year, and farmers who lost money during the crisis are planning a class-action suit against the federal government for up to $100 million in compensation.

Island producers claim the Americans used PVY-n as an excuse to ban imports and support U.S. growers. Sales to Europe and South America were not as deeply affected by the PVY-n scare and have returned to previous levels.

Fraser said the volume of P.E.I. potatoes shipped to all markets this year has been strong throughout the processing, table, seed and offshore markets. The only exception is the Russet Burbank crop, which was small.

“The variety didn’t have enough time in the season to size up, and many are so small they are going to cull for cattle feed.”

Tablestock prices to Toronto this week are hitting $6 to $6.25 per 50-pound bag. That means an Island grower is receiving $4.75 to $5 for 50 pounds at the farm gate. A year ago, farm-packed potatoes were selling for $1.75 per 50 pounds.

Producers also are seeing unprecedented demand by processors.

“The demand for fries and processing keeps growing,” said Fraser, who cites worldwide expansion by fast-food chains such as McDonald’s restaurants for the reason.

French-fry producer Cavendish Farms is buying potatoes in storage for as much as 9 cents a pound on site and ungraded. In previous years, growers had to grade them, haul them and pay for the hauling.

“It’s a tipoff that supplies are limited and demand is strong,” said Fraser, who added that potatoes are being imported from Maine to help handle the demand.


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