As French Fry Demand Diminishes, Potato Acres Expected To Drop

Manitoba potato growers are feeling the impact of COVID-19.

 

Dan Sawatzky is Manager of Keystone Potato Producers Association.

 

"Acreage will be down this year," he said. "An estimate might be in that 67,000 range, which is similar to a couple years back. We are seeing demand for fries diminishing, certainly with the COVID-19 virus, people are staying home more and a lot of our product goes through quick service restaurants and even the sit down restaurants, and they're all closed. Obviously, we're seeing a real shutdown of a lot of that market."

 

Sawatzky says they are seeing an increase in retail fry sales, however it's small compared to the loss at restaurants.

 

He's hoping to see a rebound in 2020, as roughly 12,000 acres of potatoes were left unharvested last fall.

Video: This Implement Means Trouble...

Sometimes you have to pull out the tool that nobody wants to use to save the crop. we're hooked up to the rotary hoe because the ground has crusted over hard, and our corn is struggling to emerge. It's a bumpy, dusty job, but getting that top layer broken up is the only way to give this corn a fighting chance! Once the rescue mission is complete, we're shifting gears. We hit the fields for some spraying, find some dry dirt to work and finally get the planter rolling. It’s been over 2 weeks since a seed has been put into the ground… it sure feels good to be back!!