After a difficult year in which perfectly edible potatoes were destroyed because of a ban on exports to the United States, farmers on P.E.I. are back in the fields for planting season.

The ban, imposed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency after potato wart was discovered in two fields on P.E.I., lasted from November to April, costing farmers millions of dollars in lost revenue.

CBC drone pilot Shane Hennessey&nbsp;shot these photos from a G&nbsp;Visser &amp; Sons potato field in Roseberry, P.E.I., last week.

P.E.I. potato exports to U.S. resuming effective immediately

After months of waiting, and millions of pounds of potatoes destroyed this winter, potato growers on P.E.I. can now resume exports to the United States.

Bags of Prince Edward Island potatoes are unloaded from a transport truck on Dec. 8, 2021 in Ottawa with Parliament Hill in the background. 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency imposed the export ban two weeks ago to satisfy concerns raised by the US over the discovery of potato wart in two PEI fields.

PEI-Potato-Wart 20211208

The P.E.I. Potato Board estimates trade with the U.S. would have been $120 million this season.

The Vissers plant a field in potatoes six rows at a time with this planter. 

Potato planting

Many P.E.I. potato farmers including Vissers had a rough shipping season this winter, destroying millions of pounds of potatoes after the U.S. banned imports of P.E.I. spuds. The ban was lifted a few weeks ago and farmers are hoping for smoother sailing this season. 

Tractors with GPS technology make planting straight rows easier than ever. 

Planting is always a time of great hope on Island farms as growers begin the work of growing crops to feed not only locals, but thousands of families across North America.

Potato fields

For Randy Visser and his nephew, Ben Visser, it was a relief to be able to plan for this season, knowing that exports to the U.S. had resumed.

Potato field

G Visser and Sons started in 1954 when the Vissers immigrated from Holland. Gerrit Visser passed along his love and respect for the land to his sons William and Randy Visser, who with other family members farm the land today. 

In pictures: Back to the fields for P.E.I.'s potato farmers

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