Taking Steps to Prevent Potato Wart From Entering the U.S.

The National Potato Council, Northland Potato Growers Association and several other state potato groups have submitted comments to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency over its draft potato wart response plan. The U.S. groups said the Canadian plan takes action after the disease is identified and does nothing to prevent it from happening. “We’re trying to keep it out of our country and so we think there are a number of steps that Canada can take that will reduce the risk of this disease being exported to the U.S. in one of these commercial loads that is coming in every single day from Prince Edward Island,” said Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato Council.If potato wart were to enter the United States, the National Potato Council said all international fresh potato markets could be lost.