Following last year’s restrictions on potato movement, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has continued to assist P.E.I. potato producers every step of the way as they recover from significant market challenges.

In addition to providing immediate financial support, strategic investments in this sector ensure its long-term sustainability as a key component of the Island economy.

In this regard, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister in charge of ACOA, recently disclosed a combined contribution for nine companies across P.E.I. totaling more than USD4.2 m.

Export restrictions threatened the livelihoods of more than 5,000 Islanders who work in the industry when potato wart was found on P.E.I. in the fall of 2021. The P.E.I. PSII is one of the quick-acting initiatives the Canadian government put in place to assist those who were most negatively impacted.

The USD16m two-year initiative supports SME modernization to increase productivity and diversify product offerings. The industry is responding to shifting market conditions with investments in areas like digitization and automation, the creation of value-added products, and diversification into new and emerging markets.