PEI Potato Contract hearing wrapped up

A hearing over how Cavendish Farms negotiates potato contracts with P.E.I. growers wrapped up Thursday.

Cavendish Farms, an Irving-owned company, appealed a decision by the P.E.I. Potato Board.

The board had approved an order in December that required processors to settle their contracts with growers by the end of March. That would mean potato farmers would know the quantity and price before their crops went into the ground, which wasn't the case in the last couple of years.

Lawyers for Cavendish Farms argued the potato board does not have the authority to enforce such a rule about contracts.

Cavendish Farms and the potato board finished their arguments on the issue before the Natural Products Appeals Tribunal in Charlottetown Thursday.

A decision is expected to take at least a few weeks.