PRESQUE ISLE – Shipments of potatoes from Prince Edward Island won’t be crossing the border of the United States anytime soon, regardless of claims to the contrary by Canadian officials, according to Maine industry officials Wednesday.

Canadian Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief apparently made a mistake when he told P.E.I. farmers earlier this week that U.S. restrictions on their produce had been softened and that shipments could begin within 48 hours, the time it would take for U.S. officials to ready the border for such imports.

The federal minister also said that tablestock, or potatoes headed for the fresh markets in Canada, could be shipped to other provinces without being washed or applying sprout inhibitor to keep the tubers from being replanted.

Vanclief seems to have made the apparent erroneous announcement in P.E.I. in an effort to pacify the island growers angry over the minister’s previous comment that they should find another crop to produce.

After the potato wart fungus was found on P.E.I. last fall, U.S. officials imposed such strict import regulations that island growers chose to keep their produce in storage rather than accept the U.S. regulations. The restrictions also specify how potatoes are to be handled throughout Canada

The fungus causes large growths on the tubers, rendering the potatoes unmarketable. The disease can live for decades in the soil and can’t be controlled by pesticides or other means.

“It’s all screwed up,” Michael Corey, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, said Wednesday regarding the misinterpretation.

The two-page letter dated April 10 from Richard Dunkle, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to Robert Carberry, director of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, offered a few minor concessions regarding shipment of potatoes within Canada.

However, the letter also was clear regarding the bulk movement of P.E.I. potatoes into the United States.

“[T]he movement of bulk shipments of tablestock potatoes from any zone of P.E.I. to the United States poses an unacceptable risk and will not be permitted,” the letter said.

One of the changes that the United States has proposed is that bulk, or truckload, shipments of P.E.I. potatoes heading to a Canadian processing plant do not have to be washed and treated with sprout inhibitor. In addition, if the processing plant rejects the produce, it must be returned to P.E.I. for disposal, according to the proposal.

The proposal also said that potatoes heading to the fresh market must be washed and treated and be packed in containers of 50 pounds or less.

Somehow the letter was interpreted to mean that tablestock potatoes didn’t require washing or treatment, which would have made about 200 P.E.I. growers happy since they don’t have washing facilities, according to David Lavway of Washburn, the government liaison for the National Potato Council.

Shipping of seed from one area of P.E.I. can occur if normal seed certification procedures are followed and inspections are conducted at the shipping point, according to the proposal. Soil falling from the sorting line also would require testing, and permits to track the seed from its origin to its destination are needed.

Lavway said that earlier on Wednesday, Dunkle held a press conference by telephone with Canadian media. Dunkle “explained that in no uncertain terms” tablestock potatoes are to be washed, Lavway said.

In a telephone news conference between Carberry and U.S. and Canadian reporters, Carberry said Wednesday afternoon that the “U.S. position changed overnight.”

“I don’t understand it,” said Carberry. “It’s not consistent with what Rick [Dunkle] and I talked about last week.”

The Canadian agricultural official said that he had contacted USDA officials and planned to “fight” the washing requirement for tablestock.

Maine officials contended Wednesday that the border has not been closed to P.E.I. potatoes as long as growers agreed to the strict guidelines proposed by the Americans in December.

Corey of the potato board said, “There’s no reason why they [growers] couldn’t ship all season.”

Those restrictions include placing Canadian federal inspectors in all P.E.I. packing facilities and tubers washed and treated with sprout inhibitor and packed in containers of 50 pounds or less. The produce would be labeled as from P.E.I.

U.S. inspectors also would be able to conduct spot inspection in P.E.I. packing areas. All commercial shipments would enter the United States at the Houlton port of entry and be inspected thoroughly by American officials.

U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, also confirmed Wednesday that restrictions haven’t been lifted.

“The USDA’s effort to restrict the importation of potatoes from Canada has helped to protect farmers in Maine and other parts of the country from the threat posed by potato wart,” Baldacci said in a prepared statement. “I’m encouraged that those restrictions will continue.”