News: Sobeys Display of PEI Potatoes sets world record

A world record-setting potato display, featuring a final total of 92,500 pounds of Prince Edward Island potatoes, was completed on Wednesday, October 3rd at the Sobeys retail location on University Avenue in Charlottetown. This sets a new, unofficial world record for the size of a potato display, eclipsing a previous record of 80,000 lbs previously set in the United States.

The display consists of 10 pound paper bags of PEI potatoes supplied by Prince Edward Island potato growers, including WP Griffin Inc. in Elmsdale and Jewell’s of PEI Inc. in York. This record-setting display also kicks off a five day sale on potatoes at this location, ahead of the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend.

To celebrate, Sobeys hosted a barbeque on Wednesday, October 3rd from 4 to 6 pm and on Thursday, October 4th from 11 am to 2 pm. Proceeds from the barbeque went to the Canadian Potato Museum in O’Leary, PEI. As well, WP Griffin Inc. provided baked potatoes from their portable potato baking machine. Also on hand was “Tate,” the PEI Potatoes mascot and “Bud the Spud,” the mascot for WP Griffin Inc.

Proudly Canadian, with headquarters in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Sobeys has been serving the food shopping needs of Canadians for 105 years. Sobeys and its franchise affiliates employ more than 95,000 people. The company’s goal is to be widely recognized as the best food retailer and workplace environment in Canada.

Prince Edward Island Potatoes are world renowned for the great taste and quality that comes from growing in the unique red soil of PEI. The potato industry in PEI creates a total economic impact of $1.065 billion dollars and directly or indirectly employs over 12% of the Island workforce.

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is a producer-controlled association dedicated to supporting the highest performance of the PEI potato industry.

Source: Prince Edward Island Potato Board