Details were announced February 1 for the Surplus Potato Management Response under which the Canadian government will provide up to $28 million and the province of Prince Edward Island will provide up to $12.2 million. For context, this is due to findings of potato wart in two PEI fields and the November 21, 2021 closure of the border to export potatoes to the U.S. 

The goal is to divert as many potatoes as possible to processors, packers and food banks, to minimize the amount of surplus potatoes to be destroyed. Producers will also receive support to assist with the costs of environmentally-sound destruction of surplus potatoes. Producers will receive up to 8.5 cents a pound for the disposal of potatoes. 

Industry estimates that 2.90 million cwt (290 million pounds) will be diverted to processors, packers, dehydrators, food banks and other markets. Current estimates suggest that 3 million cwt (300 million pounds) will need to be destroyed, representing just over 10 per cent of PEI’s total 2021 production. The PEI Potato Board will deliver the plan on behalf of the governments to manage potatoes that have been rendered surplus.

Both levels of government are working tirelessly to restore trade of PEI potatoes and to support the industry. As part of the ongoing efforts, Minister Bibeau and the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, met with United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on January 27. Secretary Vilsack agreed for the United States Department of Agriculture to expedite their risk assessment of PEI table stock potatoes. He also committed to rendering a decision on exports to Puerto Rico within two weeks of the meeting.

Source:  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada February 1, 2022 news release