Russet Burbank remains the preferred potato variety among Canadian agronomists and consumers. McCain Foods, based in Chin, Alberta, is now collaborating with the Farming Smarter Association to evaluate alternative varieties for potential use in food processing. A research trial on a commercial plot is underway to grow four varieties utilizing six distinct treatments. Amanda Crook, lead agronomist at McCain Foods, stated during a Farming Smarter field event, "We were really excited when they came to us expressing interest in getting into the potato research that they're doing."
McCain Foods forms part of 32 enterprises linked with research contracts at the association. Crook noted, "Our core principle is not research, it's growing the world's best French fries." The region faces a research deficit, with reliance on external data to fill informational gaps due to limited local studies. For five years, McCain has invested in exploring the potato variety pipeline, moving beyond the century-old Russet Burbank. Crook suggests alternatives may offer better efficiency, water fertility, and increased resistance against pests and diseases. "(What) we're trying to do is discover which ones they are, and how we can integrate them into our system," she added.
Though Russet Burbank occupies most of McCain's acreage agreements with growers, the goal is to shift by 2030 with new introductions. These will be supported by comprehensive agronomic packages and best management practices. Emphasizing third-party validation, Crook remarked, "It's validated, non-biased, third-party research that's going to give us the data straight as it is."
McCain Foods remains committed to providing agriculturalists with optimal economic insights for integrating novel potato varieties.
Source: Alberta Farmer Express
