News Release
Wart disease: PGI Wants Ban on All Import Products from Canada
released: 2000-11-01
BLACKFOOT, ID — The discovery of potato wart fungus on Prince Edward Island, Canada prompted the Potato Growers of Idaho Executive Committee Wednesday to call for a ban on all import products from Canada that are potential carriers of the disease.
PGI passed a resolution Tuesday strongly encouraging USDA/APHIS and all state agriculture departments in the USA to immediately ban the import of all fresh potatoes, processed potato products, and any other fruit, vegetable or livestock from Canada that could carry the disease. USDA placed a quarantine on fresh potatoes from Prince Edward Island (PEI) Tuesday. PGI supports expanding that quarantine to include all Canadian Provinces.
Potato wart is a potentially devastating disease that is not currently found anywhere in the United States. No chemical control is known that does not injure the soil or crops. It survives in soil for decades and can only be controlled through strict quarantine. The Idaho Potato Commission has worked for several years to open the way for fresh potato exports to several Asian countries. Part of the requirements are to be certified free from certain pests including potato wart. Failure to react to this problem in a timely manner could jeopardize the future of the Idaho potato industry.
Several days ago the potato wart fungus, a quarantine pest, was discovered on potatoes coming from a field in Prince Edward Island. USDA-APHIS responded by sending a team to the area to investigate. In the meantime, USDA proceeded to require that any Canadian table stock or seed from PEI move only through one border crossing in Maine. However, the National Potato Council did not feel that this was adequate to protect U.S. potatoes from this disease and appealed to USDA to initiate a complete quarantine of fresh or seed potatoes from PEI until testing was completed. Deputy Administrator Richard Dunkle, after a review of the reports, agreed with the NPC concerns and has approved such a border quarantine effective immediately and until further notice.
Idaho potato growers are strongly encouraged to contact their congressional representatives regarding this serious problem.
About PGI:
The Potato Growers of Idaho is a voluntary association of approximately 250 potato growers from all of Idaho’s principal growing areas. PGI was formed in 1962. In the more than 40 years since its organization,PGI's mission has evolved to include representation of growers in governmental, legislative and industry organizations. PGI staff works under the directions of the Grower’s Executive Committee, and in cooperation with national potato organizations.