Call for ban in U.S. as potato wart spores found in P.E.I.

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Or sign-in if you have an account.The National Potato Council of the United States is once again calling for a renewed ban on the importation of fresh P.E.I. potatoes after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed potato wart spores were detected in a new P.E.I. field. Photo by Stu Neatby /Guardian fileSUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The National Potato Council of the United States is once again calling for a renewed ban on the importation of fresh P.E.I. potatoes.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe move comes as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed potato wart spores were detected in a new P.E.I. field. It’s the first new case since 2023.“Given that this new detection has occurred in an entirely new field without any association with previous finds, it reinforces our continued concerns over the true scope of the disease in P.E.I. production areas,” said Kam Quarles, chief executive officer of the National Potato Council, in a May 18 release.“Therefore, we renew our strong objection to allowing imports of fresh potatoes from P.E.I. into the U.S.”Breaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. Weekdays by 9 a.m.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Posthaste will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe U.S. is the major market for fresh and processed P.E.I. spuds. It imported $860 million worth in 2024, some 92 per cent of the province’s total potato exports.Potato wart, also known as potato canker, is a soil-borne fungus that attacks the plant’s tubers, deforming them and decreasing yields. The fungus is otherwise not harmful to humans or animals. However, the spores can remain viable for up to 30 years and can be found at depths of up to 50 cm. The disease can be spread by infected seed tubers or in infested soil. Potato wart is caused by a soil-borne fungus, Synchytrium endobioticum, that attacks the potato plant. – ContributedThe CFIA has stated the fungus was detected during the fifth annual national potato wart survey, part of Canada’s long-term management plan for the problem.“The detection is limited to a single potato field identified through routine survey sampling and analysis, and there is currently no evidence of symptomatic tubers or spread to other fields.“The farm where the detection occurred does not export potatoes and produces seed potatoes for on-farm use only. Potatoes produced on the farm are primarily for on-island processing.”An investigation is ongoing, it added, and measures remain in place to help prevent the fungus from spreading.“This finding does not change the current risk mitigation measures governing the movement of P.E.I. potatoes,” it said.“Canada remains committed to a science-based, transparent approach to plant health, and will continue to provide updates and notify trading partners as required.”Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. potato board, said the CFIA’s detection means the preventative measures in place are working.Potatoes leaving P.E.I. go through layers of stringent cleaning and quality control, said Donald, and other than the statement issued by the National Potato Council, the P.E.I. industry has received no other reports of concern from its partners, domestic or international.“The field is in close geographic proximity to the area that has been associated with previous detections. P.E.I. follows the national potato wart response plan, a most stringent and effective management tool, that has shown once again to be successful,” said Donald.“There has been and continues to be no risk to P.E.I.’s potato industry or any of its domestic and international markets. P.E.I. potatoes are the safest in the world.”In a statement to Postmedia, the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture said minister Bloyce Thompson has spoken to his federal ministerial counterpart, Heath MacDonald, who also represents the P.E.I. riding of Malpeque, on the issue and is monitoring the situation closely.“We remain supportive of the national potato wart response plan and the work of CFIA, and we support the statement issued by CFIA regarding the detection.” A farmer runs a snowblower through a pile of potatoes near Crapaud in February 2022 after restrictions were put in place due to the detection of potato wart in P.E.I. – Guardian file Photo by Stu Neatby /Stu NeatbyPotato wart has had a confirmed presence in the province since 2000 and most recently caused major disruptions to the Island’s potato industry in 2021. That October, it was discovered in two new fields, used to grow seed potatoes, and the subsequent investigation found it in four more.A month later, the CFIA suspended the certification of P.E.I. seed potatoes headed for the U.S. The federal government then issued a ministerial order expanding the suspension to fresh and processing potatoes. The move, it said, was made to preempt the U.S. from imposing its own, potentially far more costly and difficult to lift, ban.The ministerial order was widely criticized by Island farmers and resulted in a sizable portion of that year’s crop being unmarketable and subsequently destroyed. The provincial and federal governments jointly created a $40 million fund to help divert some of the crop to food banks and other alternative uses, but it also paid farmers to destroy the crop they could not find a home for.The P.E.I. Potato Board appealed the order, but it was upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal.In May of 2022, the border was reopened to fresh/table stock P.E.I. potatoes, but the ban on the shipment of seed and processing potatoes remains in place, which has resulted in many Island farms exiting that segment of the industry.Stay informed: Don’t miss the news you need to know. Sign up for our newsletter today.Colin MacLean is the assistant managing editor at the Journal Pioneer in Summerside. He can be reached at cmaclean@postmedia.com and followed on X @JournalPMacLean. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.