b'Weve been told by processors that we have the right heat units, warm sunshine hours in the summer, a long enough growing season to grow any-thing, great soil and everything except enough irrigation to guarantee supply for large processors, Stewart says.French fry processing has been expanding over the past few years across the Prairies. Cavendish Farms opened a new plant in Lethbridge, Alta. last year while J.R. Simplot Company has expanded its plant at Portage la Prairie, Man. The province has been talking with major processors, Stewart explains. Well he wont give details on which processors they have been talking with, he says none of the processors have plants in Manitoba.If we can grow more of that and gain a larger market share across Canada and into the U.S. with our seed potatoes, thats a good thing. MATTHEW LAWLESSLawless isnt as optimistic a processing industry will be established in the province. But he does think they can see expansion in the seed and fresh potato industries. While the majority of fresh potatoes in the province are grown locally, some are imported from out of province but with the expansion they could become self-sufficient possibly.Saskatchewan already has a reputation for disease and virus-free, very vigorous seed of high quality, Lawless says. If we can grow more of that and gain a larger market share across Canada and into the U.S. with our seed potatoes, thats a good thing.Saskatchewan will have to sort out some logistical issues though if a pro-cessing expansion happens. When the seed industry first established itself in the province, they had to solve some shipping issues, and MacIsaac expects similar problems will arise for the processing industry.Saskatchewan is located further away from large marketing areas for processed potatoes similar to Idaho, which is the largest potato producingAn irrigationregion in the United States, MacIsaac explains. So, there is possibility there,boom waters a canola but it takes time to develop this whole infrastructure in the system that goescrop near Lakealong with the actual potato plant. Diefenbaker. PHOTO: SASKATCHEWAN While the first steps to grow the Saskatchewan potato industry may haveSEED POTATO GROWERS been taken with the irrigation expansion announcement, there is still a lot ofASSOCIATIONwork the potato industry will need to do to make it a reality. FALL 2020 SPUDSMART.COM 13'