Canada: Manitoba potato acres projected to fall as french fry companies cut back

Potato acres are expected to fall in Manitoba this spring, as french fry companies cut back on process potato contracts. Potato growers are still negotiating contracts with Simplot and McCain Foods, but preliminary talks suggest volumes and acres will be down compared to 2015. “Simplot has indicated they’re going to be down about 10.7 percent (in volume),” said Dan Sawatzky, Keystone Potato Growers Association manager. “They did go about 22 percent (higher) last year. So I think this is a little bit of a correction.” The contract volume for McCain Foods, which operates two plants in Manitoba, should be flat compared to 2015, Sawatzky said. More