News on Potato Stats, Trade, Prices from Northern America

No potato wart found in 5,000 samples tested by CFIA.

July 23, 2022

No sign of potato wart in 5,000 Prince Edward Island soil samples tested so far

With testing completed on 5,000 Prince Edward Island (PEI) soil samples collected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from March to June no potato wart has been found.

June 29, 2022

Later start on smaller crop of Idaho potatoes this summer

Supplies of Idaho potatoes continue to be extremely tight and will likely gap before fresh crop potatoes come on later this summer.

Time to permanently retire fields with potato wart, P.E.I. legislative committee says

May 09, 2022

Time to permanently retire fields with potato wart, a Prince Edward Island legislative committee says

Fields, where potato wart has been found, should be taken permanently out of any type of agricultural production, a P.E.I. legislative committee is recommending.

April 24, 2022

Potatoes USA Elects 2022 - 2023 Leadership

Potatoes USA, the marketing and promotion board for the potato industry in the United States, elected new leadership during its Annual Meeting on March 9, 2022. The newly elected Chairman and Executive Committee will lead the Board through 2022-2023.

National Potato Council Statement on Joint U.S.-Mexico Announcement on Potential Reopening of Mexican Market to U.S. Potatoes

April 06, 2022

National Potato Council on Joint US-Mexico Announcement on Potential Reopening of Mexican Market to US Potatoes

The National Potato Council released the following statement in response to a joint announcement by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Mexico Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Víctor Villalobos

April 05, 2022

Launching Conscious Consumption™ line of potatoes at CPMA show

Following last week’s USDA announcement that potatoes from Prince Edward Island will soon be able to resume exporting into the U.S. after a multi-month ban on exports, in turn, that should positively impact the Ontario potato market.

March 14, 2022

Third detection of potato wart 'no surprise', say P.E.I. Potato Board and CFIA

The P.E.I. Potato Board said it is 'no surprise' that there has been a third detection of potato wart, this one found in soil samples taken in October 2021.

February 13, 2022

Prince Edward Island resumes export of potatoes to Puerto Rico

The United States has agreed to let imports of Prince Edward Island table stock potatoes to Puerto Rico resume. United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made the announcement in a news release last week.

New Federal Ministerial Coordinating Committee on PEI Potatoes brings whole-of-government approach to help farmers affected by U.S. trade disruption

January 11, 2022

Government Canada establishes committee to restore market access for PEI fresh potatoes to the United States

The Government of Canada is committed to restoring market access for PEI fresh potatoes to the United States and supporting PEI farmers impacted by trade disruptions.

P.E.I. potato ban to U.S. expected to last into new year.

December 18, 2021

Prince Edward Island potato ban to United States expected to last into new year

P.E.I.'s agriculture minister says he is still hopeful potatoes in limbo won't have to be destroyed, but indications suggest restrictions on Island spuds will last into the new year.

December 13, 2021

Latest estimate of the Canadian potato crop

Potato Production in Canada for the year 2021, is estimated at 123,054,000 hundredweight. This is up 18.9 million hundredweight or 18.2% above 2020 (which had very low production in the two Eastern provinces).

Prince Edward Island farmers losing money day by day in potato export crisis.

December 03, 2021

P.E.I. farmers losing money day by day in potato export crisis

After 20 years of successful management, potato wart has closed the U.S. border again. P.E.I. farmers are five days into a suspension of trade for their potatoes into the U.S. market.

PEI based Salad Company, Johnston’s Encourages Canadians to Support Local PEI Potato Farmers in Response to Recent Export Ban

December 01, 2021

PEI based Salad Company Encourages Canadians to Support PEI Potato Farmers in Response to US Export Ban

With its roots firmly planted on PEI soil for over 74 years, Johnston’s Homestyle proudly supports local farmers while they face challenges during supply chain restrictions.

November 27, 2021

Government-Industry potato working group assembles to help affected farmers in Prince Edward Island

The Government of Canada is working with the Province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) and industry to support PEI farmers following the recent suspension of certification of fresh potatoes from PEI to the United States.

Prince Edward Island Potato Board Response to Suspension of Exports to USA

November 23, 2021

Prince Edward Island Potato Board 'shocked' by CFIA decision to suspend its Potato Exports to the US

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is shocked by the decision by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to suspend the certification of exports of all potatoes from Prince Edward Island to the United States of America.

Tubers affected by potato wart (Synchytrium endobioticum)

November 22, 2021

CFIA announces measures to prevent spread of potato wart from PEI

Today, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced measures to prevent the spread of potato wart from Prince Edward Island (PEI). Potato wart is a plant disease that poses no threat to human health or food safety, but is known to decrease potato yield.

United States frozen potato export continued to improve

November 20, 2021

United States export of frozen potato increased by 30 percent in Q3 (YOY)

U.S. exports of frozen potato products increased by 30% for the July – September 2021 quarter compared to 2020. These increases were led by a 63% increase to Mexico

November 16, 2021

Trucking shortage hinders sale of record Aroostook County potato harvest

Aroostook County (Maine, US) may have pulled a record potato harvest out of the ground this year, but transportation slowdowns and a driver shortage are making it difficult to get the crop to market.