By Trevor MacDonald
Special to The Guardian
TORONTO — Prince Edward Island potatoes have once again been recognized as being some of the best in the world.
Three of the top four awards available in the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair seed and table stock potato classes were awarded to Jamie Lewis of York.
The Lewis name is widely known for top notch Holstein cattle. However, in recent years potatoes from the red soil near Charlottetown have earned a number of impressive awards for the farm as well.
In the table stock division, the Lewis farm showed one entry. In the class for Yukon Gold, Yukon Gem, or any other yellow-fleshed variety, a first prize red ribbon was earned. That entry went on to be awarded the title of grand champion in the table stock show.
Both the grand champion and reserve grand champion awards went to Lewis in the seed stock section of the competiton. The grand champion seed stock also earned Lewis the Canadian Horticultural Council International Award.
Lewis was awarded first prize for his entry in the Russet Burbank class. Another red ribbon went a Lewis entry in the class for Yukon Gold, Yukon Gem, or any other yellow-fleshed variety.
Veteran Royal Winter Fair exhibitor Cecil Godfrey from North Wiltshire showed an entry in the class for the most unusually-shaped vegetable. This unique class is open to all varieties of oddly-configured vegetables. This year's competition included potatoes, cabbage and others.
In keeping with the Island tradition, Godfrey showed a potato recently harvested near his home. His efforts earned him a third prize ribbon.
Godfrey is no stranger to the Royal, having shown at the fair more than 40 times since the late 1960s in a number of divisions including swine, sheep and beef cattle.
Trevor MacDonald of Murray River is a long-time Royal watcher and participant. He is providing stories on P.E.I.’s participation at this year’s fair.
