FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – October 16, 2017) The Government of Prince Edward Island and the PEI Potato industry are once again teaming up to provide a tractor trailer load of fresh potatoes to those affected by a hurricane in the United States. A truck carrying over 42,000 pounds of fresh potatoes left PEI yesterday en route to help feed those in need in Puerto Rico as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.
The load will be received at the hunger-relief organization Second Harvest of South Georgia, which is an official storage and redistribution site for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). From there, the PEI Potatoes will be included among other relief items and sent to Puerto Rico. Second Harvest also received a full load of PEI potatoes and produce in September for food aid in Florida following Hurricane Irma’s arrival.
“Islanders continue to show their generosity to the world. We are pleased to partner with producers to share our potatoes with those affected in hurricane-damaged Puerto Rico.” said Premier Wade MacLauchlan
“Puerto Rico is particularly special to PEI, as we have a close and long term trading relationship with that territory. PEI Potatoes have been on the shelves in Puerto Rico for decades, and we want to do whatever we can to help our friends that have been through that devastating hurricane. We would like to say thank to you all involved, including the Province, fellow producers, packers and Annear’s Transport who helped make this happen” said Rodney Dingwell, Chairman of PEI Potato Board.
The trailer will include 17 pallets of potato donations – from five-pound to 50-pound bags – from growers and packers throughout Prince Edward Island. The Government of Prince Edward Island and Morley Annear Transport will once again generously cover the freight costs. It is anticipated that the trailer will take approximately two-and-a-half days to arrive in Georgia. The potatoes are expected to reach Puerto Rico within the week.
List of partners:
Government of Prince Edward Island
McKenna Bros, 48 Road
Blue Bay Farms, Rustico
Frank & Scott Power, Elliotvale
WP Griffin, Elmsdale
Rollo Bay Holdings, Rollo Bay
McCain Produce, Summerside
Gerrit Visser & Sons, Orwell
Eastern Produce, Pownal
Red Isle Produce, Charlottetown
Morley Annear Transport, Montague
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Prince Edward Island Potatoes are world renowned for the great taste and quality that comes from growing in the unique red soil of PEI. The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is a producer-controlled organization dedicated to supporting the highest performance of an economically and environmentally sustainable potato industry. The potato industry contributes over $1 billion to the Prince Edward Island economy each year.