LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – The next time a carload of teenagers pulls up to a fast food joint for the full meal combo, the fries will likely come from southern Alberta.
For potato seed grower Siebe Ypma of Taber, it’s a good time to expand into processing potatoes with the opening of an international french fry processor at his back door.
Lamb-Weston at Taber is already processing french fries from Russett Burbank potatoes grown in irrigated fields south of the Trans-Canada Highway.
The president of the Potato Growers of Alberta has been growing spuds for 40 years and sees nothing but prosperity on the horizon. But prosperity only comes to skilled farmers. Growing potatoes is not for everyone, said Ypma, who started farming in Ontario.
Read Also
Ag in Motion speaker highlights need for biosecurity on cattle operations
Ag in Motion highlights need for biosecurity on cattle farms. Government of Saskatchewan provides checklist on what you can do to make your cattle operation more biosecure.
“If you are lower than average, you won’t survive because of the high costs. If you are small it’s not viable, and you have to borrow an awful lot of money,” said Ypma.
Weather problems and high costs make it a risky business.
It costs upward of $1,500 per acre to produce potatoes and $100 a tonne per year to hold them in storage.
That does not include irrigated land costs, chemicals and storage facilities.
Year-round processing
The high tech storage facilities make it possible for Alberta growers to continue hauling potatoes for processing year round. Potatoes going to Lamb-Weston now went into storage last September, said Ypma.
The storage buildings are heavily insulated and contain computer-controlled refrigeration units. These are turned on as necessary to maintain the temperature at 8 C. Humidity is set between 90 and 95 percent with pressurized ventilation.
The opening of Lamb-Weston this summer and McCain’s Foods next year at Coaldale will add two more plants to the existing ones of Old Dutch, Maple Leaf Foods and Hostess Frito-Lay. They all have contracts with farmers to supply potatoes year round.
This year, Alberta growers have contracted 38,600 acres compared to last year’s acreage of about 28,000. Lamb-Weston wants 8,000 acres next year.
Most of the expansion was done by experienced growers. There are only eight new growers and another 10 are expected to start next year said Ypma.
To expand, growers need technical support from their association and government extension staff.
The Potato Growers of Alberta is moving its office from Calgary to Taber, across the road from the Lamb-Weston potato processing plant.
“Growers need to see we are working on their behalf,”said Al Stuart, manager.
