Canadá: 2020 potato acreage Prince Edward Island dependent on contracts
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic brought physical meetings to a standstill, the board of directors of United Potato Growers of Canada held a face-to-face meeting in Ottawa to review potato stocks and discuss the market situation across the country.
General Manager Kevin MacIsaac noted stocks nationally were down 1.9 per cent or one million hundredweight over the three-year average as of March 1.
However, the former chair of the PEI Potato Board noted Island holdings were up 3.9 per cent.
“Crop movement is up in Canada and the US but down in export markets,” he said. “Movement has picked up in the last few weeks with particularly good movement on large size profiles. The 10lb price is down $.24/10lb below last year at $2.67 FOB, but the fresh weighted average on long whites is $28.59, which is up $.44/cwt over last year and GRI is $17.93 which is up $.37 from a year ago.”
Mr MacIsaac said storability has been a concern since harvest. Processing stocks on March 1 were .9 per cent above the three year average. He noted French fry contract negotiations have started with growers laying out their position. Chip contracts are under discussion as well.
MacIsaac said the 2020 planted acreage in PEI is expected to be the same, around 85,500 acres, however it ultimately depends on the contract settlement and whether growers see increased value and return on their investment.
Turning to New Brunswick, he said holdings in all categories were 7.2 per cent below the three year average. Some sheds have been dealing with pink rot issues, but he noted demand has been heavy on the processing side with very few open potatoes available.
Click here for the full article.
Fuente: https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9210063/canada-2020-potato-acreage-prince-edward-island-dependent-on-contracts/
