Potato production in Canada rose to 100.5 million hundredweight in 2012, up 8.6 percent from 2011, Statistics Canada has announced.
The production gains came primarily from Western Canada as growers in Alberta and Manitoba had above average crops in 2012.
Producers harvested 75,500 acres in Manitoba this year, up from 70,000 in 2011. Average yields across the province were 275 cwt., compared to 250 cwt. in the rain-soaked spring and dry summer of 2011.
In total, Manitoba produced 20.7 million cwt. of spuds in 2012, compared to 17.5 million in 2011.
In Alberta, harvested acres jumped significantly from 50,100 in 2011 to 54,000 in 2012. Yields were also higher, as the average yield this year was 344 cwt., up from 328 cwt. in 2011. Overall, Alberta growers produced 18.6 million cwt., compared to 16.4 million cwt. in 2011.
Across Canada, Quebec was the only major potato growing province that lost acres and production in 2012.
Prince Edward Island retained its title as the top potato province, producing 24.9 million cwt. of spuds on 87,500 acres of land.