Cavendish Farms investing in sustainable potatoes on P.E.I.

A new research project aims to make the potato farming industry greener on Prince Edward Island.

Cavendish Farms is digging into a major sustainability project at its Discovery Farm in New London, P.E.I., aiming to help Island potato growers go greener.

The food giant recently unveiled the initiative, designed to make the potato industry more environmentally friendly.

“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 research will focus on key areas like water consumption, pest and disease control, and soil management.

“The environment is critical for the planet for not today’s world but future generations,” Irving said.

Kyle Maynard, co-owner of Farmboys Inc., is enthusiastic about the initiative.

“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.

“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."

Irving acknowledged the concerns surrounding the ongoing U.S. tariffs.

“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,” he said.

P.E.I.’s potato industry relies heavily on exports to the U.S.

“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,” said Irving. “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.”

A Farm advisory group has been established to ensure collaboration between Cavendish Farms and local growers. The goal is to share research results that will improve potato crops and protect farmland for future generations.

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