Fewer spuds grown across Canada good for P.E.I. potato farmers

The amount of spuds planted this year in Canada has dropped and the P.E.I. Potato Board said that's a good thing. 

Numbers released by Statistics Canada recently show the amount of potato acreage across the country is down by almost two per cent in 2016 compared to last year, with the biggest declines in New Brunswick and Manitoba. Potato acreage in those two provinces has dropped between four and five per cent. 

The general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board said that is a good thing for all potato growers.

Greg Donald says New Brunswick potato processing declined last year but the acres of potatoes grown in that province remained the same. He said that and a stellar growing season led to an oversupply of spuds. Donald said that can depress the price for all growers. 

'One big pile of potatoes'

"Some folks in the industry refer to not only Canada but North America and, to a certain degree globally, as one big pile of potatoes," said Donald.

"So if there is an overproduction or more potatoes than the market needs in one area of Canada, let's say, it does impact the price that the other locations experience." 

Acreage dropped in Manitoba this year because of a reduction of processing. P.E.I. saw a slight drop in the number of acres of spuds grown.