Provincial officials may be coy about revealing what potato processors they’re courting. But they’re not shy about flaunting what they believe gives them the edge in attracting french fry investment.
* Manitoba: experience
- Manitoba: experience
Manitoba grew 70,000 acres of spuds in 1996, an increase of more than 40 percent in five years, mainly for large french fry plants in Portage la Prairie and Carberry.
* Saskatchewan: fresh territory
- Saskatchewan: fresh territory
The province has enough acres under irrigation now for a small plant, without pressures from other potato processors or agricultural sectors.
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“It’ll be difficult for us to ever achieve what Manitoba has at this point, but given our irrigation potential in the province, we could have in 20 years, 25 years, 60,000 acres of spuds here,” said Spudco’s Kevin Engel.
* Alberta: infrastructure
- Alberta: infrastructure
Competitive rates for natural gas and electricity, ample irrigated land and proximity to Asian markets are part of what’s packaged as the Alberta advantage.
“We can demonstrate that the capability is there, we can accommodate the facility,” said Ron Wegner of Alberta Agriculture’s processing industry division.
“In our view, I guess it’s just a matter of time.”
