Just as connoisseurs of fine wine say they can taste the soil
in which the grapes are grown, the Prince Edward Island potato
has a
flavour that is unique because of the Island's rich red soil. If
you could visualize the perfect place for growing potatoes, it
would be Prince Edward Island. The Island's rich sandy soil, clean
air
and water, and its long cold winters that naturally cleanse the
soil, provide the perfect environment for growing high quality
potatoes.
In addition, experience and adaptation of the latest growing, storing
and shipping techniques have given Prince Edward Island growers
the ability to deliver excellent quality potatoes.
Everyone loves
Prince Edward Island potatoes and they are in demand around the
world. Prince Edward Island is small, but its quality potatoes can hold their
own in competition with the world's best.
P.E.I. farmers have been producing
potatoes for the world since 1790. Today, potatoes are P.E.I.’s
primary cash crop. Potatoes account for more than one-third of
the total farm cash receipts in the province, which is more than
the combined value of all other Island crops. Prince Edward Island enjoys the
reputation as Canada’s leading potato province, responsible for almost
one-third of Canadian production.
Prince Edward Island potatoes are grown for three specific markets:
seed, table potatoes, and processing. Seed potatoes are sold to commercial
potato growers and home gardeners to produce next year's crop; table
potatoes in the retail and food service sectors; and processing potatoes
are manufactured into French fries, potato chips, and other processed
potato products.
Almost 50% of the potatoes grown on P.E.I. are used
by the processing industry. Most are processed into frozen potato
products, which are available across Canada
and are exported to close to 30 countries around the world. Besides frozen
potato products, P.E.I. potatoes are used by French fry processors,
potato chips processors, and dehydration processing plants.
In addition to the important Canadian market, seed and table potatoes
are shipped to over 20 countries annually. Some customer countries
are Venezuela, Italy,
Ukraine, Portugal, and Thailand. While markets vary from year to year, over
the past few years about 50% of our table potatoes have been sold in Canada,
20%
have been marketed in the United States, and approximately 30% are sold to
other countries.
information courtesy of PEI Potato Board
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