Potato tampering mystery remains unsolved

As the old saying goes, it's not adversity that defines a person or group but rather how they deal with it in moving forward.

That's the perspective P.E.I.'s potato industry is taking after a nearly year-long food tampering mystery - a series of incidents of sewing needles being found in potatoes sold in the Atlantic provinces - that has led to millions of dollars in upgrades, a $500,000 reward and ongoing criminal investigation.

While the investigation continues for RCMP, the deadline for the reward put together by the industry and supporters was this past Saturday.

Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. potato board, said farmers are holding out hope that some of the information received will lead to an eventual arrest.

"We can only hope. Who knows? Maybe there was information over the last few days," said Donald, noting that a $100,000 reward will still remain until Oct. 31.

Millions of public and private dollars have been pumped into nearly 50 Island farms to introduce state-of-the-art foreign material detection devices and surveillance systems.

As well, farms have been working with RCMP in a "neighbourhood watch" style program, which encourages neighbours to call officers if they suspect anyone suspicious around potato fields.
 

Donald said those efforts have been crucial in the industry's focus on moving forward and keeping P.E.I.'s strong brand of potatoes alive.

"Our industry hasn't focused on the belly aching, financial or emotional challenges," said Donald. "Instead food safety has continued to be the highest priority. That's what we've focused on."