‘Baking under the sun’: How Ontario’s potato harvest battles rising temperatures

Oct 06, 2023

The recent heat wave sweeping through Canada’s Ontario province has put a damper on the potato harvest, according to Dr. Eugenia Banks, a renowned potato specialist at the Ontario Potato Board. In her latest email newsletter, Dr. Banks highlighted the challenges faced by farmers due to the soaring temperatures.

By noon, the mercury is touching a scorching 29C, making it perilous to dig up potatoes. Ideally, potatoes should be harvested when the pulp temperatures are between 10-15C. Any temperature above 18C can lead to diseases like soft rot and Pythium leak, which can infect the tubers through any bruises or minor wounds.

Dr. Banks emphasized the importance of monitoring pulp temperatures to ensure the health of the crop. P & K Vander Zaag Farms, one of the prominent farms in the region, has been meticulous in recording details such as pulp temperature, variety of the potato, date, time, truck number, and storage name.

Such detailed records can be invaluable in case any issues arise later in the storage piles.

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Video: When is Sustainable Packaging Coming in the Canadian Agri Food Industry? 3 Critical Perspectives

Canada’s regulatory landscape on single-use plastics is complex but a recent ruling by the Federal Court of Appeal sided with the government’s intent to eliminate single-use plastics. What does this mean for the Canadian agri-food industry? How can companies find the right balance between regulatory compliance and implementing costly alternative solutions? What are retailers and consumers saying about sustainable packaging? This webinar features Joshua Goodman, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Sobeys; Marie-Anne Champoux-Guimond, Director of Sustainability, Keurig Dr Pepper Canada and Glenford Jameson, Canadian Food Lawyer, G.S. Jameson and Company

This 60-minute webinar brings together three industry leaders to examine the opportunities, challenges, and realities of the path forward. In this session, you will gain insights into:

•Canada’s regulatory roadmap and timeline on eliminating single-use plastics

•Current end-of-life solutions for plastics and alternative packaging solutions

•The need to have a corporate strategy that aligns with reality at the retail shelves

•How major brands and retailers are pivoting

•Supply chain considerations

•Common misconceptions