More
    BusinessCanada Mexico Meeting | Spud Smart 2012

    Canada Mexico Meeting | Spud Smart 2012

    -

    The annual bilateral meeting between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA) took place this year in Mexico City on March 28 and 29.

    According to Alain Boucher, national manager of seed potato certification at CFIA, the meeting was positive, and Mexican officials indicated that they were pleased with the 2011-2012 export season.

    Additionally, Mexico has agreed to consider Canada’s request to reduce the frequency of audits under the stipulation that a pilot program be considered for this growing season, to determine whether a reduction in audit frequency is viable. Mexico has agreed to provide funds for officials to visit a province in Canada in order to collect 40 to 60 samples from growers at harvest. Costs associated with sample testing will be covered by SENASICA—however, transportation costs for the samples will be covered by industry. The final audit phase, according to Boucher, will entail review of the collection of remaining samples, and export shipment verification in late October or early November.

    Growers are encouraged to identify seed potato crops intended for export to Mexico as early as possible and inform staff at their local CFIA offices, in order to facilitate crop inspection by visiting Mexican officials.

    According to Statistics Canada, agri-food exports from Mexico to Canada increased between 2010 and 2011 by 8.9 per cent, from USD 1.196 million to USD 1.303 million. For total volume of Canadian potato exports abroad, 2011 statistics place Mexico as Canada’s second-largest trading partner, after the United States.

    *Information courtesy of CFIA.

    Trending This Week

    Tractor in freshly plowed potato field

    Prepping Your Potato Seed for Spring — Webinar and Podcast

    0
    A good potato crop starts with good seed. If you don’t have quality seed then you’re holding back your crops potential. Should you cut...
    Seed potato storage

    Prepping Your Potato Seed for Spring

    0
    What you need to keep in mind to get your potato seed ready for planting this spring. Experts Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for...
    Railway tracks

    CP Rail Purchase of Kansas City Southern Approved

    0
    The purchase of Kansas City Southern Railway Company by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited has been approved by the United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) with conditions, a March 15 decision posted online said.
    Radish Cover Crop

    Servicing Your Soil through Cover Cropping

    0
    Cover cropping is an important part of keeping your soil in good health. Soil is an important part of the farm, just as crucial as...
    Potato field in sunset

    New Study Finds How Potassium Fertilizers Impact Potatoes

    0
    A new study testing potassium fertilizers has found how they impact potato quality, a March 22 news release said. In the study, led by Sarah...