Prince Edward Island Port Authority attempts to revive potato exports

The port of Summerside (Prince Edward Island, Canada) may begin exporting tablestock potatoes again this winter.

The opportunity exists to reclaim some of the Island’s potato export market, said Earl Smith of the P.E.I. Potato Exporters.

In the past, the local port had been a major player in exports to seed potato markets worldwide. Those markets are now gone and chances are slim that they can be reclaimed.

But Smith said there is opportunity for tablestock shipments.

Smith admits, “With those (seed potato markets) you have to grow your markets and it is difficult. There still are possibilities on the tablestock side of the business. That’s what I think most people are hoping for this coming winter.

“The country that everybody’s talking about is Russia,” he added. “They’re purchasing a lot of potatoes out of Europe now. When some of those early stocks get cleaned up there could be an opportunity here for some movement from Prince Edward Island.”

Summerside’s once booming potato-shipping industry fell by the wayside to the point where the port was losing $250,000 to $300,000 a year by the time the Summerside Port Corporation took ownership from Transport Canada.

Smith suggested the demise of the potato shipping industry can be blamed on reduced demand for our potatoes. “A lot of these countries want to do it (grow potatoes) themselves – at least they try.”