b"CANADIAN POTATO COUNCILTesting Varieties for the LocalsThe Canadian Potato Council runs a program with groups across the country to test potato varieties locally. BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONPOTATO GROWERS IN Canada are always interested in andin Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, but those are run by wanting to try out new varieties of potatoes. However, beforeAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The CPC part of they plant a full field of a potatoes, they need reassurance ofprogram is part of the Canadian Horticultural Council cluster how these potatoes will do in their area, which is where theprojects funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP).Canadian Potato Councils (CPC) regional variety programOur trial includes varieties recently or close to comes into the picture. commercialization so that if someone sees something in our The variety of evaluation work here is really focusing ontrials, and they say, Oh, wow, that looks like a really interesting evaluating the material that's of most interest to Peak growersvariety that might really fit my production. they can usually get and for the market sector that we're in. So, Ag Canada is a partseed of it. When people are looking at the breeding line trials, of that. But we're also very interested in working with othertheyre usually several years away from commercialization, breeders that are developing material. So, it's very much growerMary Kay Sonier, the seed coordinator at the P.E.I. Potato Board, driven in terms of what they want to see, Tracy Shinners- explains in a phone interview.Carnelley, vice president of research and quality at Peak of theThe CPCs research website says the program is designed to Market, says during an interview at the Manitoba trial site nearallow for the local evaluation of adaptability of promising new Winkler, Man. varieties or selections across Canada. Varieties from AAFCs The varietal program partners with regional groups across theNational Potato Breeding Program and selections from private country in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba,breeding programs, university breeding programs in the United Alberta, and British Columbia. There are also variety trialsStates and Canada, are included.The 2020 field day in British Columbia at their variety trial site.PHOTO: E.S. CROPCONSULT LTD.34SPUDSMART.COM Fall 2021"