ELMSDALE, P.E.I. — The general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board estimates 95 per cent of Prince Edward Island’s 2019 potato crop is already harvested.
Greg Donald said several growers have completed their harvest and the vast majority should be wrapping up prior to the clouds opening up on Halloween. Heavy rainfall is forecast for Prince Edward Island on Thursday and Friday.
Not all growers will finish before the rain, Donald added, but he is hopeful the land will get a chance to dry out enough for them to finish up prior to winter weather settling in. He noted that last year’s harvest ran until Nov. 10, after which a cold snap forced growers to park their equipment for the year.
“There’s some people digging, I’d say in most areas across the Island, still,” Donald said, adding potato quality has been impacted on some farms due to the wet ground.
He described the yield as being at least average, and higher yields in areas that received more rainfall during the growing season.
“It varies by area and by farm and variety, but those that had a little more rain during the summer, the crop seems to be better."
