Two Quebec potato packers, Québec Parmentier and Patate-Saint-Ambroise of Saguenay, Que., have merged together, according to a release from the companies. “The integration of these new partners confirms that the business model and the values advocated by the organization meet the interests of potato producers in Quebec,” says Pierre Chouinard, CEO of Québec Parmentier, in the release. Following the completion of the merger Saint-Ambroise, Que.-based Québec Parmentier will hold all of the…
There are now about 550 acres of of processing and table potatoes have been planted in the Leamington area in Ontario, according to Mark VanOostrum, field supply manager with Beeton, Ont.-based WD Potato Ltd. Growers in the Delhi area started planting this week; only a few acres are in the ground so far, Eugenia Banks, a potato specialist with the Ontario Potato Board, says in an email. She expects there should be…
Increased frozen potato product processing demand supported farmland value increases in potato regions across Canada, Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) annual farmland values report for 2019 shows. Nationally farmland values rose 5.2 per cent in 2019 — the smallest increase over the past decade. Areas with potato production though recorded larger increases than those without though. In southern Alberta around Lethbridge, farmland increased by 3.9 per cent — beating the provincial increase of 3.3…
Potato planting across southern Ontario has began within the last few weeks, Eugenia Banks, a potato specialist with the Ontario Potato Board, says in an email. There has already been 130 acres of potatoes planted in the Lemington area, according to Mark VanOostrum, Banks notes. The area received two inches of rain last weekend, which stalled planting for a few days. Planting started this week at Whites Potato Farm located near Vanessa,…
As french fry sales plunge and fresh potato and chip sales surge due to the COVID-19 pandemic, processors are struggling to gauge future market demand leaving farmers in the flux as they start planting this year’s crop, the April 1 issue of North American Potato Market News says. As restaurants have shutdown or closed in-restaurant seating, french fry sales globally have dropped. Fries are starting to pile up and plants are slowing…
Japan has agreed to further reduce exports on United States potato products as of April 1, a news release from the National Potato Council (NPC) says. This comes only four months after the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement came into affect on Jan. 1. The tariff on U.S. frozen fries will fall to 2.1 per cent, and the tariff on U.S. dehydrated potato flakes will drop to 10 per cent. Further reductions will happen…
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause restaurants across North America to shut down and limit operations, demand for french fries has dropped significantly, the March 25 issue of North American Potato Market News says. Demand for fresh potatoes in grocery stores has rose as shoppers have stockpiled supplies, however traffic at fast-casual restaurants dropped by 78 per cent compared to last year, the report says. Over 80 per cent of North American…
Below is a list of updates from provincial and federal potato organizations in regards to COVID-19 information. This page will be updated when new information is available. Keystone Potato Producers Association The organization’s office closed as of Monday, March 23, with employees working from home, Dan Sawatzky, general manager of the Keystone Potato Producers Association (KPPA), says in an email. The spring production/United Partners meeting which was scheduled for March 26 has…
The recently created Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA) has added Charlottetown, P.E.I.-based breeding and seed potato trading company HZPC Americas Corp, as a member to its organization, the group says in a news release. “Fostering collaboration across the value chain is an essential component of PSA. By joining our organization and partnering with our members and potato farmers, HZPC can help catalyze opportunities for ongoing improvement in potato sustainability,” Laura Scandurra, executive director…
As North American shoppers stock up on non-perishable foods in order to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, packers are having difficulty keeping up with retail demand, the March 18 issue of North American Potato Market News says. “As consumers eat out less often they need to replace those meals with food prepared at home. Potatoes may be the most versatile vegetable for them to use,” the report says. “That would…