The 2025 PEI Potato Industry Awards Banquet took place on Friday, November 21 in Charlottetown.
© Prince Edward Island Potato BoardBoyd Rose accepting his award.
Boyd Rose, partner of East Point Potato and RA Rose & Sons, was recognized for his involvement in the industry. Rose started farming with his brother Myles and father Robert, growing potatoes for the seed, table and eventually processing industry. Through the purchase of East Point Potato (formerly MacKay & Hughes), with his partners, is where Rose found his stride, turning that company into the fresh potato packing operation it is today. Rose has served with the Potato Producers Association, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC, formerly Canadian Horticultural Council) and several terms with the PEI Potato Board as both a director and chairman of the Board.
© Prince Edward Island Potato Board
The award being given to Pat Quilty.
Pat Quilty was also presented with an award for his commitment to the PEI Potato Industry, particularly in the seed sector. Quilty is operations manager with the Potato Quality Institute (PQI), which he joined in 1999. He has an extensive background in agricultural science, earning his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from MacDonald College of McGill University in 1982, and through his experience as lab technician and supervisor with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Under his direction, PQI has become a cornerstone of seed potato testing and certification, offering a wide range of potato diagnostics. This work protects the integrity of PEI seed potatoes and helps ensure each new crop starts strong, healthy, and disease-free.
The PEI Potato Board also added another industry recognition, the Passion for Potatoes awards. These awards were created to highlight young people who may or may not come from a family farm, but who work in, are engaged in, and are seen as valuable members of the potato industry. This year's inaugural recipients were Isaac MacEwen and Jacob Enman.
© Prince Edward Island Potato Board
L-R: Isaac MacEwen and Jacob Enman receving their awards.
MacEwan is 17 years old, from New London, PEI and has fostered a love of farming since he was a young boy, where he started growing, harvesting and selling Irish Cobblers at his farm stand and to restaurants. He then started working on neighboring farms, where his hardworking nature and reliability is very appreciated.
Enman is 19 years old from Vernon Bridge PEI and works with G.W Visser in Orwell, PEI. While he didn't grow up on a farm, he approached the team as a 13 year old, looking for summer work. His responsibilities have steadily grown, and he is now the lead for their field irrigation systems.
For more information:
Kendra Mills
Prince Edward Island Potato Board
Tel: +1 (902) 892-6551
[email protected]
www.peipotato.org
