Canadian potato stocks remain at record highs

Canadian potato growers held record potato stocks on June 1. There were over 154,000 extra tonnes in stocks during the most recent stock survey. Most of these potatoes are stored by growers in the prairie provinces, where potato acreage increased significantly last year.The prairie provinces Manitoba and Alberta together held nearly 813,000 tonnes of potatoes on June 1. That is 34% higher than on the same date last year. Stocks in Manitoba were 20% higher and those in Alberta 47%. Stocks in the maritime provinces were meanwhile 12% lower at 385,825 tonnes.14% more processing potatoes The total potato stocks in Canada amounted to 1.34 million tonnes on June 1. That is a 13% increase compared to 2025, an increase of 154,221 tonnes from a year earlier. Stocks of processing potatoes were 14% higher compared to a year ago. Stocks of table potatoes were 13% higher and seed potato stocks had largely been cleared by June 1.Potato disappearance during May was 651,358 tonnes, which is a 10% increase compared to the same month last year. However, the figure was very similar to the three-year average. Especially in the Eastern provinces the disappearance was lower compared to last year. The use of table potatoes was over 20% lower compared to a year ago. Total processing potato disappearance in the country was meanwhile 14% higher. Seed potato shipments were almost 17% higher.Processors running at full capacity The four biggest processing provinces held 1.04 million tonnes of processing potatoes on June 1. This is 17% more compared to the same date last year. Most of these potatoes are stored in Alberta. The larger stocks reflect the increase in planted area in 2025, combined with favourable yields. Processors have been working non-stop. The potato disappearance in these four provinces was 14.4% higher during May, compared to a year ago. 315,700 tonnes of potatoes were processed during the month by French fry factories. Based on current inventories, Canadian processors can be supplied with old-stock potatoes until around September 10. This is more than enough to cover their needs, before the new season arrives. It is estimated that some of these supplies will be shipped to Prince Edward Island to help cover the smaller harvest on the island.