A record amount of potatoes has been harvested in Canada this year, official statistics show, breaking the 2023 record, albeit by just 17.000 tonnes. A combination of growing acreage and good yields have seen the harvest volume rise year-on-year.
According to Statistics Canada, 5,759 million tonnes of potatoes were harvested in the country this year. That is 17.000 tonnes (0,3%) more than last year. At 158.410 hectares, the area has hardly changed compared to the previous year. However, slightly fewer potatoes were left than last year and therefore more hectares were harvested. Due to the early frost, few crops were lost this year.
Area is increasing steadily
The area is not a record, but in twenty years a clear upward trend is visible in the cultivation of potatoes. This concerns both table and chip potatoes and seed potatoes. The yield per hectare amounts to 37,1 tons and that is almost the same as 2023. It is 5% more than the five-year average. In recent years the weather has been favorable.
With 1,36 million tonnes, Alberta is the province that produces the most potatoes. That is a decrease of 6% compared to last year. Next comes the prairie province of Manitoba, with 1,24 million tonnes of potatoes (6,6% less). Mainly because the hectares here shrank, due to a decreased demand for French fries. The provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan together account for half of all Canadian potatoes. French fries potatoes are mainly grown here.
More potatoes in coastal provinces
The famous 'potato island' Prince Edward Island (PEI) cultivated the most hectares in five years, producing 1,17 million tonnes of potatoes. That is slightly more than was harvested in 2023. The coastal provinces together account for 35% of the Canadian potato harvest. Yields are on average higher here this year, compared to 2023, where they have actually decreased further west. A combination of acreage and growing conditions are the basis for this.
Of course, a place must be found for this large harvest. Fortunately, the country can currently sell its product well to the neighboring country of the US. In August, September and October, more volume was exported than was the case last year. In October, the volume, at 129.500 tons, was 10% higher than in the same month last year. Of that, 85% went to the US. Perhaps striking is that the price level was 5% higher than last year, although prices in October fell slightly compared to September. The other major customers are Mexico and Japan.
Price almost 30% higher
The prices for frozen fries from Canada have increased in recent years, albeit at a somewhat slower pace than in Europe. This is because the country was already at the top of the price range. In three seasons, the average price level increased by almost 30%, to $1.930 per ton. Converted, that is around €1.294. This puts it well on par with the EU-4. Belgium and France are at similar levels, while the Netherlands is considerably above that at €1.400.