(Washington) Prince Edward Island farmers will soon be able to start exporting potatoes to the United States again, months after Canada suspended shipments due to the detection of potato wart in the fields of the island.
Posted at 5:10 p.m.
The US Department of Agriculture issued a press release on Thursday saying the two countries have reached an agreement.
The department says exports of table potatoes from Prince Edward Island can resume under certain conditions, including that potatoes shipped to the United States come only from fields that are not known to be infected with potato wart.
Canada halted the export of potatoes from Prince Edward Island last November to avoid a US ban, and since then the mainland US market has been closed to all potatoes from the island. ‘Isle. Exports to Puerto Rico resumed last month.
The Prince Edward Island Potato Council said the industry on the island lost more than $25 million before exports to Puerto Rico resumed.
Potato wart is a fungal parasite that is spread through the movement of infected potatoes, soil and equipment, and although it poses no threat to human health, it leaves potatoes disfigured and can decrease crop yields.