The Annual Award Banquet of the Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) Potato Board recently took place. The sector praised Dennis King, the premier of P.E.I., Bloyce Thompson, the current agriculture minister Darlene Compton, and the rest of the provincial government for their assistance and labor throughout the potato wart issue.

Wayne Easter, a retired member of parliament, was also honored by the Potato Board for his contributions during the crisis.

“Although he was no longer a member of parliament, he was still there for the potato industry last year, making trips to Washington and Ottawa, as well as providing persistent correspondence to key contacts to support our industry,” according to a recent press release.

Gerald “Jeddy” MacFadyen, John Robinson, and Kevin MacIsaac received awards for lifetime contributions to the P.E.I. potato industry from the Potato Board.

Following the press release, MacFadyen and his brother took over the family farm when their father passed away when he was 16 years old. In P.E.I., his father Edward MacFadyen, and his cousins established the seed potato business. He was one of P.E.I.’s largest potato farmers during the early years of commercial potato farming, cultivating 100 to 175 acres.

Jeddy MacFadyen has participated in the growing of more than 80 potato crops.

“He has left an incredible legacy for his sons and now grandsons, making MacFadyen Farms Ltd. a fourth-generation farm,” the representatives wrote. The 96-year-old MacFayden was there in person to receive the award.

In Albany, Prince Edward Island, Eric C. Robinson Inc. was run for many years by John Robinson, his father Eric, and his brother Allan. In addition to selling grading equipment, handling equipment, cultivating equipment, seed cutters, fertilizer, and agricultural inputs, their business included a farm, a packing house, and a dealership for potatoes.

According to the announcement, Robinson’s farm was a pioneer in experimenting with novel crops and production methods. The business was a pioneer in the use of terraces, berms, hedgerows, strip crops, and other soil conservation methods. To help balance the supply and demand of potatoes, Robinson also contributed to the creation of the Canadian Potato Marketing Agency.

Industry knowledge was provided by Kevin MacIsaac from a variety of perspectives. He was raised on the family farm in Bear River, Prince Edward Island, and has held executive positions with several other organizations, including the Prince Edward Island Potato Board and the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association. Later, he was appointed general manager of the United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC), where he worked to encourage information exchange between Canadian provinces and their American counterparts.

Additionally, the sector thanked departing board members Mark MacMillan, Mary Gillis, and Michael Ramsay for their service. Ian Shaw and Katie MacLennan, two new board members, were welcomed. John Visser, the current chair of the Potato Board, was honored for finishing his first year in that position and for overcoming substantial obstacles during a trying year.

According to the statement, the board of directors switched the script and presented a plaque to the PEI Potato Board personnel as thanks for their dedication during the potato wart outbreak.

A producer-controlled organization, the Prince Edward Island Potato Board is committed to assisting a potato economy that is both economically and environmentally sustainable. The Prince Edward Island Potato Board estimates that the potato business contributes more than USD1bn annually to the island’s economy.