Canadian potato industry leaders honored at annual banquet
The Prince Edward Island Potato Board recently gathered for its Annual Award Banquet for the first time since 2020. COVID-19 had put the banquet on hold for the past two years.
There were many challenges during those years, the Potato Board said in a news release, pointing to COVID-19, Hurricane Fiona and, most notably, the potato wart crisis of 2021-22.
During the banquet, the industry thanked Premier Dennis King; former Minister of Agriculture Bloyce Thompson; current Minister of Agriculture Darlene Compton; and the rest of the provincial government for its support and hard work during the potato wart crisis.
The Potato Board also recognized retired Member of Parliament Wayne Easter for his work during the crisis.
“Although he was no longer a member of parliament, he was still there for the potato industry last year, making trips to Washington and Ottawa, as well as providing persistent correspondence to key contacts to support our industry,” according to the release.
The Potato Board presented Industry Recognition awards for lifelong contributions to the PEI potato industry to Gerald “Jeddy” MacFadyen, John Robinson and Kevin MacIsaac.
MacFadyen was 16 when his father died, and he and his brother took over the family farm. His father, Edward MacFadyen, and his cousins were pioneers in the seed potato industry in PEI. In the early years of commercial potato production, he was one of the largest potato farmers in PEI, growing 100-175 acres, according to the release.
Jeddy MacFadyen has participated in the growing of more than 80 potato crops. “He has left an incredible legacy for his sons and now grandsons, making MacFadyen Farms Ltd. a fourth-generation farm,” the release said. The 96-year-old MacFayden was there in person to receive the award.
John Robinson, his father Eric, and his brother Allan operated Eric C. Robinson Inc. in Albany, PEI, for many years. Their business consisted of a farm, packing shed and potato dealership, as well as selling grading equipment, handling equipment, cultivating equipment, seed cutters, fertilizer and crop inputs.
Robinson’s farm led the way in trying new crops and production techniques, according to the release. The company was an early adopter of soil conservation techniques, strip cropping, terraces, berms, hedgerows and more. Robinson also was involved with developing the Canadian Potato Marketing Agency to help align potato supply with demand.
Kevin MacIsaac brought industry insight from many different angles. He grew up on his family’s farm in Bear River, PEI. MacIsaac served in executive positions with the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the Prince Edward Island Potato Board and other organizations. He later took on the role as the general manager of the United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC), working to promote information sharing between Canadian provinces and U.S. counterparts.
The industry also acknowledged outgoing board representatives Mark MacMillan, Mary Gillis and Michael Ramsay for their time on the board. New board members Ian Shaw and Katie MacLennan were welcomed. Current Potato Board chair John Visser received recognition for completing his first year as chairperson and for rising to the significant challenges during a difficult year.
In a reversal of roles, the board of directors shifted the script and offered a plaque as recognition to the PEI Potato Board staff for their hard work during the potato wart crisis, according to the release.
The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is a producer-controlled organization dedicated to supporting the highest performance of an economically and environmentally sustainable potato industry. The potato industry is worth over $1 billion to the Prince Edward Island economy each year, according to the Prince Edward Island Potato Board.
