Cavendish Farms Launches Environmental Initiative to Support P.E.I. Growers
Cavendish Farms has launched a new research-driven sustainability initiative at its Discovery Farm in New London, Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), aimed at helping local potato growers improve environmental performance across their operations.
The project will focus on improving water use efficiency, enhancing pest and disease control practices, and advancing soil management techniques. The long-term goal is to deliver actionable insights that can be implemented at the farm level to support environmentally responsible production.
“This project is really to help the future in terms of our growers here in P.E.I.,” said Robert K. Irving, president of Cavendish Farms. “The environment is critical for the planet for not today’s world but future generations.”
As one of Canada’s largest producers of frozen potato products, Cavendish Farms plays a central role in the province’s agriculture economy. With more than 80 growers currently supplying potatoes to the company, the initiative is expected to have a wide-reaching impact.
The project also includes the formation of a farm advisory group, created to foster collaboration between Cavendish Farms and local producers. Research findings from the Discovery Farm will be shared with the broader grower community to help improve crop resilience and preserve farmland health over the long term.
Kyle Maynard, co-owner of Farmboys Inc., welcomed the initiative, noting the challenges that many Island growers face when trying to integrate sustainability into daily operations.
“Everybody, every farm on P.E.I., thinks of sustainability every day, but it’s very difficult to do the research,” Maynard said. “So to have a partner like Cavendish Farms that’s willing to step in and do this research…is going to be very influential.”
He added: “Times are tough. You’re operating on a thinner budget…you manage your farm a little bit differently with equipment upgrades, stuff like that needs to happen.”
The launch comes amid broader uncertainties in the North American trade landscape. U.S. tariffs remain a point of concern for P.E.I.’s export-driven potato industry.
“Well, of course, you know, with the tariffs, that was a big concern to us and you know we were potentially going to be hit with a 25 per cent tariff,” Irving said. “Fortunately, you know, we don’t have that problem today and we’re just waiting to see how things prolong here but right today business is normal and business is steady.”
“Right here in P.E.I. we’ve got over 80-plus farmers today and you know we play a big impact in the agriculture world here in P.E.I. and this is all positive news, I believe.”
The initiative aligns with Cavendish Farms’ broader commitment to sustainability and regional economic development and represents one of the most structured environmental research efforts in the province’s potato sector to date.
