Reading Time: 3 minutes A new analysis of 450 genomes from cultivated potatoes and 56 genomes of wild potato species has revealed that the potato lineage originated through natural interbreeding between a wild tomato plant and a potato-like species in South America about 9 million years ago.
Evolutionary origins of the potato revealed – and a tomato was involved
Study, which analyzed genomes from cultivated and wild potatoes, may improve future breeding
Alberta crops 21 points below average but soil moisture improving
Reading Time: 2 minutes Prior to Alberta getting rain over the weekend of June 21 and 22, the province's crops were well below the five-year average for ratings. As of June 17, Alberta Agriculture said they were listed as 50 per cent good to excellent overall compared to the average of 71 per cent.
Ten years on the farm
Canadian producers share the biggest lessons after a decade of farming
Reading Time: 8 minutes Ten years. It breaks down into 3,652 days, or over 87,000 hours. In that way, 10 years can seem like a lot of time. Yet in others, such as when managing a busy farm, it can pass in the blink of an eye. And that decade is certainly filled with vast knowledge acquisition, unexpected surprises […] Read more
New national potato wart plan in place for 2025 growing season
Reading Time: < 1 minute The new National Potato Wart Response Plan is complete and will take effect for the 2025 potato crop.
CFIA’s 2024 potato wart survey comes back clean
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canadian Food Inspection Agency potato wart survey turns up no cases of the disease for 2024.
Potato growers’ feedback wanted in final response plan consultation
Reading Time: < 1 minute Potato growers are once again asked to give their feedback on a national potato wart response plan as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) launches a final round of public consultations.
Alberta harvest wraps up
Reading Time: 2 minutes Harvest operations in Alberta are virtually complete for 2024, the province’s crop report said. Combining advanced three points to 99 per cent finished as of Oct. 22 as well as being three points above the five-year average.
Summer Series: Getting big with small potatoes
[Change Management] Can you transition your hot new idea into a stable, growth-oriented business? The Little Potato Company’s Angela Santiago had to figure out how to do just that, and quick
Reading Time: 8 minutes At first, it seemed their real job would be to build awareness. What could have been clearer than that? After all, they had the idea already. Jacob van der Schaaf and his daughter, Angela Santiago, could see a market gap for the kind of small, flavourful potatoes that van der Schaaf had grown up with […] Read more
Potato wart survey comes back clean
Fungus-fraught P.E.I also gets clean bill of health
Reading Time: < 1 minute Fungus-fraught P.E.I also gets clean bill of health
Canadian potato output rises in 2023
Alberta vaults to first place in provincial potato production
Reading Time: 2 minutes At 32.063 million hundredweight of potatoes this year, Alberta vaulted from third to first place as it improved on the previous year’s crop of 26.813 million. Manitoba moved into second spot from third with its harvest of 29.760 million cwt. following last year’s 26.139 million. Prince Edward Island saw its output reduced in 2023 to 25.813 million cwt. from 27.789 million. In 2023, the trio combined for 68 per cent of Canada’s total potato harvest of 128,801 million cwt.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
