The Canadian Alberta spud industry found itself on the rise during these last three years, helping increase the local potato hectarage and processing tonnage, and creating opportunities for local businesses.

According to Jubs Bristow, the Canadian Cavendish Farms agriculture vice president, cited by Lethbridge Herald, the taters’ contract prices have increased, providing a good return for growers.

The annual volume will increase from 123,500 tons to nearly 350,000 tons with the opening of a new state-of-the-art frozen potato processing facility on the outskirts of the city in 2019.

“Which is an increase of more than 4,000 hectares annually, which we previously contracted from local growers. The potato industry continues to increase hectares in southern Alberta, creating opportunities for local businesses,” Bristow added.

The Lethbridge plant employs nearly 300 people and spans the equivalent of more than seven football fields, with 900 people on-site at peak construction time and 110 Alberta companies involved in the project.