The U.S. States Department of Agriculture recently announced that the import of potatoes from Canada to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico could resume.
On Feb. 8, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA determined the importation of potatoes from Prince Edward Island under specified conditions poses little risk of introducing potato wart disease to Puerto Rico, according to a press release.
Canada had previously suspended potato exports voluntarily from the island due to an outbreak of potato wart disease.
"It is critical that we base our agricultural trade decisions on sound science," Vilsack said, according to the press release. "After considering Puerto Rico’s low risk for potato wart due to climate conditions, as well as the lack of a commercial potato production industry on the island, we are confident that with appropriate mitigations in place this trade can resume safely, and the U.S. potato industry will remain protected."
The disease has not been seen in the United States, and there are no treatments for it. Potato wart disease is a soil-borne disease that is known to reduce yield and marketability.
Prince Edward Island was able to resume exporting table stock potatoes in accordance with U.S. and Canadian guidelines to Puerto Rico on Feb. 9.
