Mike DeLong🍟🥔"The Fry Guy"’s Post

Driven by a surge in demand for processed potato products in Asia, Alberta has seen a remarkable 35% increase in harvested acres since 2019. Major investments, including McCain Foods' impressive $600 million plant expansion in Coaldale, are fueling this growth. As a result, Alberta has become Canada’s leading potato-producing province, with the sector now valued at an impressive $2.87 billion 🥔 Learn more about this significant industry growth https://lnkd.in/gqzXDhVY #BigBoldAlberta #AlbertaAgriculture

Alberta’s Potato Industry Growth Fueled by International Demand. Alberta’s potato industry is experiencing a significant growth spurt, driven partly by the increasing demand in Asia for popular potato products like french fries and hash browns. According to Farm Credit Canada, the number of harvested acres of potatoes in Alberta has surged by approximately 35% since 2019. McCain Foods’ decision to expand its potato processing facility near Coaldale in southern Alberta is poised to further boost the sector’s expansion. The rise in potato production in Alberta and Manitoba is reshaping the potato landscape in Canada, shifting power westward. In 2022, the Prairies, along with British Columbia, accounted for 45.6% of potato production, surpassing Atlantic Canada and Central Canada. Alberta emerged as the top potato-producing province in the country, dethroning Prince Edward Island. The economic impact of Alberta’s potato sector has soared to $2.87 billion Canadian dollars, as per analysis by the Potato Growers of Alberta. The industry’s growth trajectory can be traced back to the early 2000s when major players such as McCain, Lamb Weston, and Cavendish Farms established processing plants in sout... https://lnkd.in/e_SDfQjX

Alberta’s Potato Industry Growth Fueled by International Demand. Alberta’s potato industry is experiencing a significant growth spurt, driven partly by the increasing demand in Asia for popular potato products like french fries and hash browns. According to Farm Credit Canada, the number of harvested acres of potatoes in Alberta has surged by approximately 35% since 2019. McCain Foods’ decision to expand its potato processing facility near Coaldale in southern Alberta is poised to further boost the sector’s expansion. The rise in potato production in Alberta and Manitoba is reshaping the potato landscape in Canada, shifting power westward. In 2022, the Prairies, along with British Columbia, accounted for 45.6% of potato production, surpassing Atlantic Canada and Central Canada. Alberta emerged as the top potato-producing province in the country, dethroning Prince Edward Island. The economic impact of Alberta’s potato sector has soared to $2.87 billion Canadian dollars, as per analysis by the Potato Growers of Alberta. The industry’s growth trajectory can be traced back to the early 2000s when major players such as McCain, Lamb Weston, and Cavendish Farms established processing plants in south... https://lnkd.in/eeeXy2ru

"Prince Edward Island no longer produces more potatoes than any other Canadian province ... Alberta, the Prairie province known for its thick cuts of red meat, is now the potato king of Canada. But just by a skin. According to the most recent report by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Alberta produced 21.8 per cent of Canadian potatoes in 2022 — just 0.2 per cent more than P.E.I. Manitoba is also hot on our heels at 21.3 per cent." ... "The North American frozen French fry industry in particular is still going up in demand. So places like Alberta are starting to fill that need. Have at 'er. That's not to say some farmers don't think about what an oversupply of potatoes could mean, even south of the border. "That's always a fear," Keisha Rose Topic, a sixth generation potato farmer with R.A. Rose and Sons in eastern P.E.I. "Especially this year, it was actually Idaho that planted 55,000 extra acres that created a glut in potatoes in Idaho, which they could then bring into Canada for cheaper than we wanted to sell ours out of P.E.I. for." Some Alberta potatoes can be found in P.E.I. grocery stores, such as those cute little taters from the Little Potato Company. It started as a father-daughter operation in Edmonton in 1996 and has grown to about 400 employees." https://lnkd.in/egk7iikh

Market Update: Broccoli Scarcity and Cauliflower Availability Shifts Explore the current market dynamics in the broccoli and cauliflower sectors, as Tolpoort Vegetables navigates challenges of supply shortages and fluctuating demand, ensuring quality and meeting market expectations in both domestic and export markets. https://lnkd.in/e3msH6D8

Kentucky's bourbon industry faces a unique supply chain challenge. Despite its rich history in bourbon production, much of the rye used must be sourced from other states, highlighting a critical bottleneck in an otherwise booming industry. 🥃🌾 Woodford Reserve, a key player in the sector, is proactively addressing this issue by collaborating with local farmers to cultivate more rye within the state. This initiative helps secure a critical ingredient for bourbon production and supports Kentucky's agricultural economy, promoting sustainability and self-sufficiency. By investing in local rye production, Woodford Reserve is ensuring the authenticity and continuity of its bourbon while fostering stronger community ties and agricultural innovation. Can this model inspire other industries facing similar supply chain challenges? https://lnkd.in/gNbwvAjB? #KentuckyBourbon #AgricultureEconomics #LocalAgriculture #SupplyChainInnovation #WoodfordReserve #BeverageTrends

Produce season impacts include geographic capacity shifts, state-level volume spikes, and increased demand for refrigerated transport. It starts with crops from Mexico and the southern US, moving northward as the season progresses. This leads to micro-capacity shifts and a need for strategic planning in transportation management, especially for refrigerated goods to extend produce shelf life. Impact to the NA Supply Chain: increased empty miles, surge charges, spot rates increase, and service gets impacted. How are you pivoting to minimize the impact?

"Despite steep competition and challenges at home, California avocado growers have managed to carve out a niche that has maintained strong pricing in two ways," Matt Woolf, our specialty crop analyst, writes in his Q3 2024 Avocado Outlook. 📉 The first is by picking the fruit when Mexico has its lowest volume in April to June. 🥑 The second is through differentiation. "Even with the growth in imports, California producers have benefited from the increase in demand and establishing themselves through high quality," Matt writes. Though the suspension of U.S. inspections of avocados coming from Michoacán may put upward pressure on prices for some growers, Matt says shipments are approaching normal levels and the incident appears to be behind us. "Despite the challenges facing the California avocado industry [such as production costs and labor shortages], farmers are likely to see stable prices in real terms in the short term." Read more of Matt's Q3 takeaways for American AgCredit avocado growers 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wLGy3 #CaliforniaAgriculture #Avocados

Idaho Potato Commission Secures Millions for Surplus Potato Purchase The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) expressed gratitude towards Secretary Tom Vilsack and his team at USDA-AMS for their swift response to the industry’s request. The IPC also acknowledged the concerted efforts of key stakeholders, including Mark Klompien of United Potato Growers of America, Kam Quarles and Dean Gibson of the National Potato Council, the Russell Group, and the IPC staff, in successfully submitting the funding request to the USDA. Surplus Management and Market Stabilization The USDA-AMS’s commitment to releasing public solicitations, including product purchase specifications, in the coming days, underscores the urgency and importance of this initiative. By purchasing surplus potatoes, the USDA aims to stabilize the market, support farmers, and ensure the continuous supply of high-quality Idaho potatoes. According to the IPC, the surplus purchase will cover both fresh and dehydrated potatoes, addressing the current overproduction and preventing potential waste. This initiative is particularly crucial as Idaho, the nation’s leading potato producer, ships a substantial volume of potatoes each season. Econom... https://lnkd.in/eheR-U66

🍒 Optimism for South Africa's Cherry Season 🍒 Despite early frost challenges affecting some cherry varieties, Tru-Cape growers remain positive about this season's harvest. Deon Malherbe from Eselfontein farm notes that while there are fewer cherries, their quality and sugar levels are outstanding, with the season running two weeks later than last year. Nico Verhoef, financial director at Witzenberg Properties, shares that early variety losses have driven prices up by about 25% compared to last year. As consumer demand increases both locally and internationally, the outlook for South African cherries looks bright, with significant growth in cherry orchards in the Ceres region. https://lnkd.in/ePw5CM4t