Features Production Research
P.E.I. potato growers say market demand up

February
10, 2011. Summerside, PEI – Buyers for P.E.I. potatoes are scooping up the 2010
fresh market harvest in record numbers.

February
10, 2011. Summerside, PEI – Buyers for P.E.I. potatoes are scooping up the 2010
fresh market harvest in record numbers.

Greg
Donald at the P.E.I. Potato Board says export volumes are up significantly and
they don’t expect to see many left.

Traditional
markets are still going strong, but an overall shortfall of spuds in North
America and a devastating drought in Russia last summer that wiped out much of
the crop, have created a huge demand.

Industry
officials estimate it has increased by over 90 per cent since last year and
even domestic demand, which includes the U.S., has increased by almost 10 per
cent.

P.E.I.
growers send more than half of their crop to the processing industry and a
small portion is set aside for the seed industry.

That
usually leaves about 40 per cent for table stock sales.