Canadian potato producers convened virtually at the 2024 Canadian Potato Summit last week. Victoria Stamper, General Manager of the United Potato Growers of Canada, presented Stats Can figures indicating 951 potato farms nationwide as of 2022, with total sales surpassing 1.5 billion dollars.
"Our average yield in Canada is 332 hundredweight per harvested acre for this year. PEI remains the dominant potato growing province with 83,500 acres. However, the West, particularly Manitoba and Alberta, is closing the gap with 81,000 and 80,000 acres respectively," Stamper said.
The 2023 planting season was efficient, but heavy rain in May and June, particularly in Quebec, affected production. Despite this, overall production increased by 3.7 per cent, a rise attributed to increased acreage and high yields in the West, which saw a 17 percent increase.
Stamper noted some growth in Saskatchewan, a smaller player in potato farming. She anticipates continued growth in the next few years, with planned expansion of the McCain facility in Coaldale, Alberta, and other developments in North American processing.
Source: centralalbertaonline.com