Farming isn’t just about producing healthy, robust crops — collaboration is essential in ensuring quality and consumer confidence are at the forefront of the Canadian potato industry.
Every November, a small contingent from the Western Canadian potato industry heads to Hawaii not for a well-earned post-harvest vacation, but to participate in an important seed testing program that takes advantage of the island’s accelerated growing conditions.
Participating growers are invited to submit 400 tuber samples, which are assembled and “awakened” in Edmonton by Stacey Bajema, Government Relations and Policy/Seed Director for the Potato Growers of Alberta. The prepared tubers are then shipped to Hawaii. A handful of hard-working growers follow the shipment a few days later and spend a few days planting the tubers on Twin Bridge Farms. The farm, now a dedicated research plot, is located on the North Shore of Oahu, a key agricultural hub that offers consistent growing conditions, especially as urbanization increases in other parts of the island. The goal is to “weed out” any potential disease or virus concerns, giving the grower — and ultimately the end use customer — confidence in the product: clean seed.
“A lot of folks misconstrue this as an export program,” Bajema says. “It is highly connected to export, but I have many growers in Alberta whose seed stays right here. It’s all about customer confidence.”
The concept isn’t new — every grower does post-harvest testing, and there are multiple ways to get the job done. But, Bajema says, “we’re not required to test in a certain way — our growers have options.”
The Western Canada-Hawaii Post-Harvest Testing Program is certainly a viable one, remarkably still intact after having weathered its fair share of challenges. During the pandemic years, for instance, Bajema says border concerns nearly brought the program to a halt. Getting the tuber samples across was one dilemma, of course, but the program’s success depends on stringent testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). When human travel was restricted, inspectors from Washington were called to fill in.
The fact that they could find replacement is a testament to the relationships that have been cultivated over the past two decades. Though Hawaii is where the program resides now, the location has moved around in the last 20 years — Florida was considered, California was tested. But crops grow quickly in Hawaii — by the time the team is finished planting the last of the tubers, many plants have already sprouted — which means Bajema can head back to Hawaii in late January to go through the results of the grow out and provide in-depth analysis to the participating growers.
“We do two CFIA inspections while we’re there,” she says. “They walk the field and take readings. It’s all about keeping everyone in the loop.”
For now, the program is holding steady — the growers committed to the program return year after year, and new participants are always welcome. But despite its resilience, Bajema acknowledges the challenges ahead. Input costs continue to rise, and Hawaii itself is changing — the agricultural landscape is continually evolving, as are the needs of the growers involved.
But Bajema is far from ready to hit the panic button.
“We have dedicated individuals committed to making this work,” she says. “That dedication shines through and keeps us going.”
