Prince Edward Island grows the most potatoes in Canada, according to an Oct. 20 news release from Statistics Canada. Data from the 2021 Census of Agriculture showed the Island reported more than a fifth of Canada’s total acres of potatoes grown at 85,235 acres.
While P.E.I. grew the most spuds, they had the second highest revenue on potato farms in Canada at $371.8 million. However, more than half of total farm revenues in P.E.I. came from farms classified as potato farms. In 2020, farms on the Island reported $682.2 million in total annual farm revenues, with 54.5 per cent of that coming from potato farms.
These results took place against the backdrop of an increase in prices for fresh potatoes, the release noted. In 2021, the Farm Product Price Index indicated fresh potatoes in Canada saw a 13.9 per cent increase over the past five years. At the same time, the industry also faced trade barrier issues, most notably from the United States which is the top export market for Canadian potatoes.
Also, to be noted over the five-year period from 2016 to 2021, the number of potato farms in P.E.I. decreased by 13.4 per cent. Despite this decrease, they remained the second most frequently reported farm type in the province behind farms classified as beef and feedlots, the release said. Farms on the Island reported a 12.3 per cent decrease in total farm area with the largest decrease of farm area coming from potato farms.
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