It was a good year for Canada's potato growers in 2021. The harvest, according to Statistics Canada estimates, was at levels not seen in more than a decade. Significant challenges remain, however. On Prince Edward Island (PEI), the country's largest producer, an export ban has to be dealt with, while in the west of the country the consequences of difficult weather conditions in summer could mean that the industry will not be able to meet the demand for to serve a higher processing capacity.
Kevin MacIsaac, General Manager of Potato Growers of Canada, said the first signs of a good harvest this year were proving correct, despite the fact that the weather was affecting producers in some areas in the western provinces. Compared to 2020, when production fell, 2021 has turned into a recovery year for growers, he said.
But challenges in the form of excessive heat on the prairies this summer and a federal export ban on PEIPotatoes to the United States due to potato warts (fungal disease) in two fields on the island could affect this year's bottom line.
Source
Hansa Terminhandel GmbH