P.E.I. Burger Love with a side of potatoes

It’s been a tough few months for potato farmers on Prince Edward Island.

An export ban on island potatoes went into impact in late November after potato wart was detected in two fields.

The illness is innocent to individuals, however does have an effect on potato yields.

“Numerous potatoes have been destroyed needlessly, quite a lot of stress placed on our grower group, so it was a very terrible yr for our trade,” stated Mark Phillips, a spokesperson with the P.E.I. Potato Board. “Due to the onerous work of lots of people, issues are beginning to flip the nook.”

The border has reopened to most potatoes, however not earlier than a lot of the harvest was wasted.

Islanders stepped up, even shopping for potatoes simply to present away, something they may do to assist.

“All over the place you turned individuals have been supportive of it,” stated Phillips. “It actually was a little bit of a lightweight in an in any other case fairly darkish time.”

That’s the place P.E.I. Burger Love is available in.

The burger competition began 12 years in the past as a solution to showcase native meals and help the island beef trade.

“As soon as the border closed within the winter, with the P.E.I. potatoes not with the ability to be transported to the U.S., we instantly had individuals attain out to us to ask if we’d contemplate doing a P.E.I. potato love occasion,” Melody Drover, Contemporary Media President.

With planning for Burger Love already underway, the competition rapidly expanded to incorporate Potato Love as properly, all through the month of Might.

Every burger is paired with a potato dish from poutine, to basic loaded fries, to potato salad.

“We additionally wished to remind Islanders, in addition to guests to the Island, how essential our P.E.I. potato trade is, together with our extra agricultural trade,” stated Drover. “Actually, when it comes right down to it, what pairs higher with a P.E.I. Burger Love burger than a P.E.I. potato?“

Whereas farmers are getting a lift at residence, cross-border enterprise nonetheless isn’t again to regular.

Seed potatoes, about 10 per cent of the island’s exports, are nonetheless not allowed into the USA.