Cultivating potatoes on Lewis’ farm. Earl Blanchard on tractor George Lewis on cultivator.

inspectors arrived to increase the chances of passing for the quality grade. In the latter part of the summer a fungicide such as bluestone or Perenox was applied to fight the late blight. Cultivating and hilling continued on a regular basis until the plants filled the rows. Prior to harvest a top killer such as sodium arsenate mixed with diesel oil or bluestone was applied, as an early killing frost was not always dependable.

After harvest, the potatoes had to be graded and prepared for market. In years, like 1957 some potatoes were required for the seed market during harvest. This was usually a bonus for the potato grower since these potatoes did not require storage. Grading occurred throughout the winter as price and demand rose. Farmers used different strategies in selling their crop. Some liked to sell them on the early market while others waited to see if the price would rise as stocks declined in the spring. Foundation seed growers kept a quantity of potatoes for the spring seed market according to the demands of neighbouring farmers.

One can see that growing potatoes during this era was more than simply putting them in the ground and digging them out. The farmer had to have a knowledge of insect pests, fertilization application rates, proper times to cultivate and spray each variety, proper times to topkill and harvest each variety, and where to get adequate help for harvest. He also had to have a feel for and understanding of current marketing conditions. Growing potatoes had become quite complicated, compared to the days when crops were planted

between tree stumps.

Processing, Mechanization & Specialization (1960-1984)

The first attempt to process potatoes was tried in Summerside between 1943 and 1950. Austin Scales and a few others started a company called Island Foods. The Company processed and dehyrated potatoes in a plant on the Robinson Mill Site on Noonan Street. The dried potatoes were sold to the Special Products Board.

In 1950, MacFarlane Produce of Summerside sold one of the first, if not the first, mechanical potato harvesters in the province. This harvester dug and loaded potatoes directly into a metal bulk box. The harvester was manufactured in Michigan and was a giant step towards mechanizing the harvest. These harvesters however, did not come into wide use until the early 1960’s.

In the fall of 1961 a new frozen food plant, Seabrooke Farms, opened in New Annan. This plant processed potatoes for the french fry market which was creating an increasing demand. In 1962, this plant processed 400 acres of potatoes and by 1966 this had increased to 2000 acres. Many growers in the Freetown area sold potatoes to the Seabrooke plant. During the first years of operation the main demand was for Kennebecs,

but in more recent years Kennebecs have been replaced by Netted Gems, or Russett'Burbanks.

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