Four Prince Edward Island farms are opening their potato storages to Islanders. Visitors are invited to help themselves and pick unwashed potatoes directly from the pile in storage Saturday, March 11th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The participating farms are:
- G Visser and Sons
- R.A. Rose and Sons Ltd.
- Farmboys Inc.
- Vanco Farms
Visitors are invited to help themselves and pick unwashed potatoes directly from the pile in storage.
During the U.S. border closure of 2021 and 2022, five farms invited Islanders to bring home some of their supply as thanks for their support. Many potatoes had to be destroyed last year when the border closed, and these farms wanted to share with Islanders before the destruction was completed. Over 5,000 people visited the five farms, collecting 160,000 lbs of potatoes, and the farms collected $8500 for the food bank.
Randy Visser with G Visser and Sons enjoyed the event and felt it was a great way to help explain to the community the 'how and why' of what they do on their farm. He did a similar event on his farm last fall where he allowed Islanders to come to pick potatoes directly out of the field during harvest, teaching people old and young a bit more about the process of the potato harvest.
Last year, over 5,000 people visited the five farms, collecting 160,000 lbs of potatoes, and the farms collected $8500 for the food bank.
Although the border has reopened and growers can ship table potatoes to the U.S., food prices have continued to increase and inflation has created challenging times for some Islanders. So even though these potatoes are perfect quality and have a home in the brisk marketplace, Visser recruited three other farms to give to Islanders and generously support the local food banks in the 2023 version of “Fill Your Boots.”
“We are thankful for a good harvest this past fall and we know that rising food costs are cutting into Islanders’ food budget,” says Visser. “The purpose of the event is to support the local food banks who help those most in need on the Island, to create an opportunity for Islanders to connect with farms and learn about what they do and to allow the farms to show their appreciation for the support felt from their communities.”
The premise is that visitors can bring a bucket, bag, boot or other creative storage means and take as many potatoes as they can fit in that item. While the potatoes are free to take, the farms hope attendees will donate to the food bank in the process. Many people are in need, and it is a great way to help them.
For more information:
Mark Phillips
Prince Edward Island Potato Board
Tel: +1 (902) 566-1334
mark@peipotato.org
www.peipotato.org