Another strong season expected because of high seeded acres and nearly ideal planting conditions in country’s spud regions
Thanks to excellent yields and a record potato crop in 2022, Canada’s potato industry is in good shape this summer. Potato supplies are sufficient to last until the fall and most regions had an excellent planting season this spring.
“Things are looking good for transition to new crop,” said Victoria Stamper, general manager of United Potato Growers of Canada.
Last year, potato growers across Canada produced an average yield of 322 hundredweight per acre, the highest on record.
Seeded acres were also the highest since 2007, so Canada produced a massive crop in 2022.
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The June stocks report from United Potato Growers showed inventories are higher than the three-year average. Alberta’s stockpile of potatoes recovered in 2022-23, increasing by 75 percent relative to 2021-22.
As for the new crop, the planting conditions this spring were nearly ideal.
“The weather through planting was very good in all areas of the country, particularly compared to the cold, wet spring of last year, with most provinces reporting potatoes in the ground “on schedule,” said the stocks report.
It’s too early for official acreage numbers, but Stamper expects acres will be flat or slightly up from 2022.
The additional acres and production are needed for new processing plants and expansions of french fry plants, particularly in Alberta.
McCain Foods announced this winter it plans to spend $600 million to double the capacity of its frozen potato processing plant in Coaldale, Alta.
Several years ago, Cavendish Farms opened a $400 million processing plant in Lethbridge.
Companies are investing in potato processing to satisfy global appetites for french fries, hash browns and other frozen products.
“Demand, particularly for frozen fried (potatoes), is continuing to outpace supply,” Stamper said.
China and other Asian nations are consuming more french fries. In North America, inflation could be driving demand for potatoes.
As the price of meat and fresh produce has climbed, restaurants are using potatoes to remain profitable.
“Potatoes are still a very good value to have on the menu for a restaurant,” Stamper said.
Harvest is months away, but Canada’s potato industry is in good shape relative to other parts of the world.
In Australia, wet weather hampered potato yields in 2022.
The lack of production led to higher prices and rationing at Australian grocery stores. Last December, supermarkets in Australia limited customers to two packages of frozen french fries.
Europe also had a difficult growing season last year because of drought. The small supply of potatoes from 2022 has dwindled to almost nothing.
“The biggest shortage is of red-skinned potatoes; you can’t find those anywhere in Europe,” Robert Voskamp, a vegetable importer in The Netherlands, told freshplaza.com.
“Harvesting still has to get underway in northwest Europe…. That (potato) shortage will continue in the coming month.”
