Kevin MacIsaac is retiring this fall, precisely a decade after he started with the United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC). 

“I was fortunate to have the life experience of being a farmer for 27 years; milking cows, growing cereal and protein crops and of course lots of potatoes,” says MacIsaac. “Just as rewarding was the opportunity to work for potato growers across Canada in the last decade, to bolster the concept of balanced supply and demand, and profitability to the grower members of the United Potato Growers of Canada.” 

Founded in 2006, the UPGC has members from the east coast of Prince Edward Island to the west coast of British Columbia. Its mission is to provide timely information so that growers can make informed production and marketing decisions. Its sister organization, United Potato Growers of America, has similar goals. 

MacIsaac was hired on October 1, 2011 to increase UPGC’s capacity to determine the available supply of potatoes for fresh, seed and processing markets. In that role, he became a well-known participant on national and international potato organizations, and spoke at grower meetings across the country. He developed a strong, mutually respectful working relationship with counterparts in the United Potato Growers of America and its grower membership.

MacIsaac began his profession after graduating from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the University of Guelph, becoming an extension agronomist with the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture. Subsequently, he and his brother Blair operated Lily Pond Farms Ltd., a family farm business in Bear River, Prince Edward Island. He has been involved with many farm organizations including chair of the PEI Potato Board, chair of the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association, and director of the PEI Processing Committee.

UPGC hopes to have a replacement for the position by fall 2021 and is actively seeking applications for the GM position at this time. 

For further information contact Info@unitedpotatocanada.com

Source:  United Potato Growers Canada September 10, 2021 news release