b'ONTARIO BRITISH COLUMBIAKevin Brubacher, general manager Hugh Reynolds with Reynalda Farmsof the Ontario Potato Board in Delta, B.C.The 2020 harvest in Ontario concluded in a timely manner. An excellentThe purpose of this issue is to fine tune your seed order. Every farm is differ-stretch of weather allowed the crop to be harvested in a normal timeframe. Al- ent, and we need to think about what crop we want to harvest. The COVID-19 though we saw some challenges throughout this years growing season, yieldspandemic has caused us to change our market directions and 2021 will be were close to average and growers were able to harvest a crop of exceptionaldifferent again. Many hundreds of thousands of our North American customers quality. Storage holdings are up from last year due to some excellent yields inmay be lost before we dig the main crop in September. As the world reopens some of our chip potato growing areas. At the time of writing potato stocks arepeople will eat out to make up for their lost year. They will order fries or a above where they were at this time last yearthere should be enough supplybaked russet to go with their wings or steak. to carry through spring.Many large areas of North America had poor weather again. In fact we The Ontario Potato Board held a successful 45th Annual General Meetinghave had several years of poor growing areas. This has allowed for fair prices on Dec. 2, 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and for the safety of everyonewith supply a few points below demand.The bad weather has hidden yield in-involved, we held our AGM virtually this year. It was definitely a differentcrease trends. Risk takers will soon learn not to bet against the average. If we format, but successful, nonetheless. We look forward to seeing everyone inhave an average or even good conditions, there could easily be an overabun-person at our 2021 AGM.dance of open table stock. This happened to our friends in France this year and Unfortunately, we have decided to cancel our annual Ontario Potato Con- you dont need to be an old potato farmer to know how ugly this can be.ference in 2021 which is hosted by Eugenia Banks. In its place Banks will beRemember those workers you hired to throw away wireworm damaged po-hosting the Ontario Potato Webinar Series on Thursday, March 4, starting attatoeshave you alerted them that their position on the grading line will not 11 a.m. Eastern. This event will be highly informative with a lineup of speakersbe needed in the future?Not only will yield increase, but grade out percentage you dont want to miss. Everyone is welcome to virtually attend this event,will decrease. A good way to hedge your bets is to sign a processing contract. please contact the Ontario Potato Board at (519) 846-5553 or email info@ Stay smart and grow what people want to buy.ontariopotatoes.ca for information on how to register.WINTER 2021 SPUDSMART.COM 67'