Canada’s potato acres is expected to increase by 15,520 acres for 2021 which would be up 4.3 per cent from the 2020 crop, the June 17 issue of the North American Potato Market News (NAPM) says. Total North American potato acreage will rise by 41,000 to 1.32 million acres, up 3.2 per cent from last year.
In seven out of the 10 provinces it’s expected growers will plant more potato acres. The largest acreage increase will happen in Manitoba and New Brunswick, the report notes. Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Alberta should also increase acres significantly.
Contract volumes for frozen processing has rebounded from the pandemic in most provinces, the report says. The majority of growers were able to secure contract price increases along with larger contract volumes. Most of Canada’s potato acres increase came from processing potatoes.
For fresh potatoes some acreage has been shifted from red to yellow potatoes. NAPM says it expects a similar change to happen with yellow seed potatoes.
NAPM also says it should be noted the Canadian potato crop was planted earlier than usual in most provinces. An early spring and favourable planting conditions gave the crop a head start, however some areas received early frost damage. Overall though the crop is in good condition with water supplies tight in many areas.
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