Minister optimistic P.E.I. potato shipments to Puerto Rico could resume soon

FREDERICTON - The federal agriculture minister is optimistic the US might approve the resumption of shipments of Prince Edward Island potatoes to the important thing market of Puerto Rico inside weeks.

Marie-Claude Bibeau and Island MP Lawrence MacAulay met with U.S. officers in Washington Thursday to debate the ban imposed by Canada on exports of the potatoes in November following the invention of potato wart in two P.E.I. fields.

The fungal parasite spreads via the motion of contaminated potatoes, soil and farm tools and poses no menace to human well being however leaves the potatoes disfigured and might tremendously lower crop yields.

“I’m very optimistic,” Bibeau mentioned in an interview Friday. “It went very effectively. We obtained the perfect consequence we might at this cut-off date.”

Bibeau mentioned American officers have agreed to take a look at Canada’s mitigation measures and decide on shipments of table-stock potatoes to Puerto Rico — the place potatoes aren't farmed — within the subsequent week or two, adopted by a choice on shipments to the continental United States.

Puerto Rico often will get 80 to 85 per cent of its potatoes from Prince Edward Island, representing a couple of quarter of the province’s exports to the US.

Bibeau mentioned she’s assured American officers will agree that P.E.I.’s table-stock potatoes — potatoes used for meals not planting — pose no danger.

“These potatoes come from fields that aren't identified for ever having potato wart. Then the potatoes are washed, brushed, graded, given a visible inspection after which they're handled with a sprout inhibitor,” she mentioned.

Initially, the U.S. Division of Agriculture and Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS) have been going to conduct an intensive investigation of each table-stock and seed potatoes from P.E.I. — a course of that some officers estimated might take till 2023 to finish.

Bibeau mentioned U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack directed these teams to take care of table-stock potatoes first.

“Having the top of APHIS across the desk yesterday, I believe introduced a message that they have been in resolution mode. They have been there to discover a resolution to this case,” Bibeau mentioned.

Nonetheless the minister mentioned the investigation into seed potatoes will take longer and can contain the examination of about 35,000 soil samples.

Canada banned shipments of P.E.I. recent potatoes to the U.S. on Nov. 22. On the time, Bibeau mentioned if Canada had not issued the suspension voluntarily, the People would have imposed their very own ban. Subsequently the U.S. determined to dam imports till Canada gives the technical knowledge to indicate the potatoes are secure.

Greg Donald, basic supervisor of the P.E.I. Potato Board, says the ban is in its tenth week and losses to farmers are round $25 million dollars up to now, however Thursday’s assembly has offered a glimmer of hope.

“Not less than there’s a timeline. We wish to maintain them accountable to these timelines, as a result of this by no means ought to have occurred, and it shouldn’t have continued so long as it has,” Donald mentioned Friday.

He mentioned if there's a beneficial choice regarding Puerto Rico, it should take a while for farmers to get shipments prepared. He mentioned the potatoes must be trucked to Halifax for shipments that depart every Monday.

“As quickly as there’s any indication, they’re going to get equipped and get potatoes loaded, prepared and ready. That does take a couple of days,” he mentioned.

Donald mentioned up to now, Island farmers have prevented having to destroy any potatoes in storage. As an alternative they’ve been in search of new markets and have despatched potatoes to meals banks throughout the nation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 28, 2022.