JULY 2019 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
Variety trials showcase fresh options New genetics promise to boost potato’s popularity
by PETER MITHAM DELTA—The genetic
diversity of the humble potato is creating new opportunities for growers to meet shifting consumer trends. This is creating a bright outlook for producers, United Potato Growers of Canada general manager Kevin MacIsaac told the BC Potato and Vegetable Growers Association earlier this year.
“Definitely, there’s more
and more diversity in that potato that we’ve realized,” he said. “They’re finding traits every day now … that are very health-beneficial, and that’s driving the consumer to have greater interest.” MacIsaac says that
promises to increase sales, and in turn give growers a reason to keep growing, even though many producers were hit hard by last year’s weather conditions. “Some years, I would look at the future of the potato industry and think it looks a little dismal. I haven’t seen that lately,” MacIsaac said. “Our consumption has been moving back from a lower point, at least stabilized and started to increase again.” Good growing conditions in BC, where growers focus on fresh market varieties and seed potatoes, mean many of the varieties planted as part of a variety trial at Rod Swenson’s farm on Westham Island measured up. “[Last] year was great for
growing potatoes,” Heather Meberg, principal of ES Cropconsult Ltd. told growers. “Overall, the crop looked great.”
Recapping the results of the 2018 variety trials, she said the crop was irrigated five times after planting on May 25, and yields were
generally high. The highest-yielding varieties that showed best were AR 2018-12, a purple- skinned tuber with white flesh, and Roko, a red-skinned variety. Both delivered approximately 36 tons an acre. Constance came in second at 32.7 tons an acre, while Noblesse produced 32.1 tons an acre. Both also have good taste, according to Meberg. However, in kitchen trials of the varieties at three secondary schools in Delta and Maple Ridge, SF Vario came out on top, followed by Oriana and Excellency. (Trials of reds and russets were ongoing when Meberg spoke at the end of February.) Renee Prasad and students at the University of the Fraser Valley are examining the crop for post-harvest issues. The partnership is profitable for everyone, Meberg said, connecting students with industry and industry with data. “It helps the students, and it helps us in terms of further assessing,” she said. She encouraged growers to engage with the variety trials, and to tell her which varieties they want to know about. The variety field day each summer has become a major event on the calendar, drawing visitors from not only BC but beyond. The event has raised BC’s profile on the national stage, while keeping the focus on local needs. “It becomes a great event
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for networking as well as showcasing the trials,” Meberg said.
BC agriculture minister
Lana Popham attended last year, something BCPVGA chair Bill Zylmans credits with the infusion of provincial funding the association received in 2018. The cash will help support the field day for another four years. With regards to what
growers are demanding in terms of varieties, MacIsaac reported that Russet Burbank continues to be “the big one by far,” followed by Goldrush and HO2000, a red-skinned variety embraced by Edmonton’s Little Potato Co. Norland also continues to see demand. Within BC, MacIsaac said
Chieftain continues to lead in production, while Yukon Gold has slipped. Kennebec continues to be popular “for an old, old variety,” he said, while Russet Nokotah is a rising table variety because it packs well despite not having the greatest flavour.
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Heather Meberg displays a sampling of Constance, the second highest yielding potato in last year’s variety trials. [PETER MITHAM PHOTO]
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