Potato Expo returns as P.E.I. growers consider drought recovery and trade risks

The International Potato Technology Expo in Charlottetown is showing the latest advancements in potato farming. Maria Sarrouh reports.

Potato producers from across Canada were in Charlottetown this week for the International Potato Technology Expo, an event organizers say drew about 3,000 visitors over two days.

For P.E.I. farmers, the trade show comes after one of the driest growing seasons on record. According to Statistics Canada’s 2025 potato production estimates, the Island had the biggest decrease of any province, down nearly 16 per cent.

“That makes it a tough year,” said Ryan Barrett, research and agronomy specialist with the P.E.I. Potato Board, adding some farms didn’t make any money at all. “Maybe they broke even, if they had crop insurance or something like that.”

The focus now, he says, is on investing in sustainable, agricultural practices. For example, some are using cover crops – plants used primarily to slow erosion - and crop rotation to improve soil health and moisture retention.

Others are testing potato varieties that could are more drought or disease resistant.

“A lot of our producers are being able to take advantage of some of these newer genetics that are more efficient.”

It’s not just the weather worrying some – trade and tariff tensions with the U.S. are also top of mind for many Island growers. The province exports about half of its total potato crop south, says Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board.

“It’s a significant portion of our sales,” he said. “Number one is to maintain and grow that business and two, we have always continued to look at other market opportunities, domestically and internationally.”

He said the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has helped keep trade flowing, but farmers are watching as the agreement heads towards its 2026 review.

Still, there are some silver linings, said fifth-generation farmer Tyler Heppell, who travelled from B.C. for the event.

“We have seen a really big buy B.C.- and buy-Canada push,” said Heppell, president of Heppell’s Potato Corp. “So even though some of our potatoes are more expensive in the grocery stores, we’re really thankful that Canadians are stepping up and supporting the local farmers.”

Heppell says part of that support comes from helping consumers understand what it takes to produce food. His social media videos garnered more than 520 million views last year.

“We show the process of planting the potatoes. We show how we irrigate the potatoes, how we harvest. And then a key part of that is showing all the issues that us farmers go through,” he said.