Canada: More Ontario potatoes on Ontario plates

The average Ontarian consumes approximately 140 pounds of potatoes per year. Ontario’s entire fresh market potato industry is worth $40 million a year and Ontario potato growers supply approximately 70 per cent of that market. Ontario’s potato growers have teamed up with researchers at the University of Guelph to identify new potato varieties that grow well in this province and are both tasty and nutritious to consumers. The early fresh potato market in Ontario – the first potatoes of the season to come to market, generally in early July – is dominated by round, white potatoes. Very few early red or yellow potato varieties, which have more nutritional value-added potential, are currently available to be grown in Ontario. The University of Guelph has a well-established variety trial program and a good working relationship with the Ontario potato industry. More