Canada: Thailand to accept Alberta seed potatoes

Alberta is now the third Canadian province from which seed potato growers are eligible to export to Thailand. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday announced a new export agreement by which Thailand will accept imports of seed potatoes produced in Alberta. “Alberta has a very innovative and progressive seed potato industry and is looking forward to the opportunity to grow low-virus, high-quality seed varieties requested by the Thai potato industry,” Deb Hart, seed potato co-ordinator for Potato Growers of Alberta, said in a federal government release. The group worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry “to profile our seed industry to Thailand officials and to receive approval to export seed to their country,” Hart said. More