b"A Failed ExpansionThe Saskatchewan government has previously tried to expand its potato industrybut the project flopped. BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONWITH THE RECENT Saskatchewan government announcement of an irriga-tion expansion, many in the potato industry are remembering a previous project to increase potato production in the Prairie province.In the 1990s, the Saskatchewan New Democrats were in power and decid- At the time the industry was ed to start a potato businessthe Saskatchewan Potato Utility Developmentconcerned with the investment that Company (SPUDCO).The plan was for the government to use the irrigated area around Lakewas made. Perhaps they hadnt Diefenbaker to increase acres and establish a potato industry which woulddone enough legword in terms eventually attract a french fry processing plant. In 1997, the governmentof where the potatoes would be constructed seven state-of-the-art, climate-controlled sheds to store potatoes in. The government would grow and market the potatoes themselves. marketed. At the time the industry was concerned with the investment that wasKEVIN MACISAACmade. Perhaps, they hadnt done enough legwork in terms of where the potatoes would be marketed, Kevin MacIsaac, general manager of the United Potato Growers of Canada, explains in a phone interview.The potato market dropped off and along with it, the Saskatchewan gov-ernments plans for SPUDCOthe company went bankrupt in 1999 leaving aexpansion) works and they're able to get a good business plan together for the mess for those involved. The provincial government estimated its losses at $34.4product and supply the food we need.million, including the cost of settling a lawsuit. The storage facilities were soldOver the years there have been some businesses who have tried to make off, with some not in use to this day.use of the storage facilities. In 2017, as the Canadian government prepared to Last time I drove through Lucky Lake and I drove by the warehouseslegalize cannabis for recreational use, cannabis company Harvest One bought that were there it was the middle of winter and the doors were just open,one shed to grow cannabis in. However, the company has been going through abandoned. I think that's a shame, MacIsaac says. I hope (the irrigationrestructuring leaving the Lucky Lake facilitys future in question. 14 SPUDSMART.COM FALL 2020"