Manitoba is introducing legislation which will reduce provincial regulations around fresh potato sales, a March 3 news release from the province says.
The legislation will help expand the provincial table potato and root crop industry. The release notes it was introduced in response to concerns from growers and Peak of the Market.
“This legislation would allow producers to grow as many table potatoes and root crops as they wish and to sell to any buyer, while paving the way for a modernized business model for Peak of the Market,” Derek Johnson, the province’s agriculture minister, says in the release.
Provincial regulations and production quotas were aimed at painting stable pricing in the domestic market, the release notes. However, growers found the quotas have restricted them from growing and selling their table potatoes and root crops to Manitoba consumers who want to purchase them.
Bill 12, the Peak of the Market reorganization act, will remove red tape for table potato and root crop growers across Manitoba, the release says. It will also allow Peak of the Market to make a transition from a regulated agency to an independent operation under the Corporations Act, with opportunities to expand by acquiring assets or other entities.
“This is an important development for Manitoba’s vegetable growers by contributing to the modernization of the industry. It will provide significant economic benefit to our community,” Peter Loewen, chair of Peak of the Market, says in the release.
Peak of the Market in its current form was established in the early 1970s by the Manitoba Vegetable Producers Marketing Plan regulation.
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