Canada-U.S. border reopens to potatoes

A ban on P.E.I. tablestock potatoes to the United States came to an end on April 1.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new federal import order late in the day on Friday that will allow the Island spuds to come in right away.

The ban is still in effect on P.E.I. seed potatoes.

“It’s good news,’’ John Visser, president of the P.E.I. Potato Board, told SaltWire Network.

“It would have been nice if it had been earlier because, as we’ve said all along, it’s in the science. There was no reason at all wash sprout potatoes couldn’t have gone down there earlier. By the same token, we are grateful to the powers that be that helped get this to where it is.’’

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) slapped the ban in place Nov. 21, 2021 after potato wart was found on two fields in P.E.I.

Visser said the USDA promised federal Agriculture Minister Mari-Claude Bibeau and Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay in late January a serious look at the ban would take place and that potatoes could start moving in about two months.

Island farmers destroyed more than 240 million pounds of potatoes due to the ban.

Visser said the decision to end the ban won’t save the season. Farmers still aren’t sure how much federal-provincial aid programs will help.

“But, you know the old saying, better late than never.’’

Visser added it goes without saying the first few loads of potatoes will be scrutinized in P.E.I. and at the U.S.-Canada border.

“I was talking to a couple of buyers already, and they are people who deal with New England.

“They are very happy with the news. They are looking forward to getting some product from P.E.I.’’