The total acreage of seed potatoes grown on RBI. in 1979 was 51,680. The major varieties in order of acreage were Netted Gem, Kennebec, Sebago, Superior, Red Pontiac, Green Mountain and Irish Cobbler.

Canada Packers Ltd. opened a mechanized “count pack” facility in Summerside in 1979. This facility was an assembly line which washed, graded by weight and packed potatoes of uniform weight into fifty pound boxes or plastic bags. These packaged potatoes were mainly for the restaurant industry in Eastern Canada and the eastern seaboard of the US. In 1984, there were six of these facilities in the province with their date ofopening as follows: Canada Packers, Greenwood Road, Summerside (1979); Keenan Farms, Rollo Bay (small scale before 1979); Linkletter Farms, Linkletter (1980); Elwood Lawton, Pownall (1980); P.E.I. Produce,

MacEwen Rd., Summerside (1981); P.E.I. Potato Services, Albany (1983).

These plants packaged Russett Burbank (Netted Gem) with a few Superiors. They account for about 15% or 10,000 acres of the provinces’ potatoes.

It is thought that 2.5 million hundred-weight, 10,000 acres, ofthe potatoes grown on the Island in 1984 were processed by either Cavendish Farms ofNew Annan, McCain’s ofFlorenceville, N.B. or Hostess Food of Kentville, N.S. In other words, the large processors account for one out of every seven acres of potatoes

grown. This demand has influenced the kind of potatoes grown. The varieties cultivated have changed significantly even from the early 19705.

Variety Total acres grown I984 “70 of total Russett Burbank 29,686 43.4 Kennebec 16,419 24.0 Sebago 7,759 11.3 Superior 7,629 11.2 Shepody 2,892 4.2 Red Pontiac 1,420 2.1 Atlantic 417 0.6 Green Mountain 405 0.6 Chieftain 231 0.3 Bintje 217 0.3 Norchip

Others

In 1984, the average potato grower grew 80 acres of potatoes and had an average yield just over 260 CWT per acre. Based on the above table one can conclude that the increase in acreage is mainly attributable to the processing and count pack demand. The Russett Burbank, which is used extensively by both these demands, accounts for 43.4% of the total acreage and when subtracted from the total leaves 40,000 acres. This was the total acreage of all potatoes in the early 19705. Yields have increased almost two fold over the 130-150 hundred-weight per acre harvested in the 1950s and almost three fold over the 85—120 hundred-weight per acre harvested in the 19305.

Corporate potato growers have increased in numbers in recent years. These companies are formed to pool resources, attract investors and to benefit from the tax advantages and job creation incentives available to larger companies.

A prime example of a corporate potato grower operating in the Freetown area is Cavendish Farms Ltd. In 1983, they grew 2200 acres of potatoes on the Island for processing in their plant at New Annan. Their land holdings at Freetown include almost all lands previously owned by Simmons & MacFarlane Ltd. and Austin A. Scales. This large acreage requires a large fleet of harvesting equipment which in 1983 consisted of Harvesters (5): Allen Farm Equipment, Covehead, RBI. (4), Thomas Farm Equipment, Florenceville, NB. (1). Windrowers (5): Tractors (11): Autocar Diesel (9), Scott Diesel (1), Ford, Louisville (1). Bulk Box Trucks: (7), Company owned (6), Leased (10).

This equipment can harvest up to 100 acres per day provided there are few breakdowns.

The cost of growing potatoes in recent years is given on the following table which are based on figures supplied by the potato operation of Sydney Green, Central Bedeque and Freetown.

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