Canada

Canada is one of the world’s top 15 potato producers, with approximately 5.8 million metric tons harvested in 2023. Potatoes are the fifth largest primary agricultural crop in Canada, following canola, wheat, soybean, and corn. They contributed about $2 billion in farm cash receipts in 2023. As the country’s largest vegetable crop, potatoes account for 29% of all vegetable receipts and 17% of total horticultural receipts. Provincially, potatoes represented over 55% of farm cash receipts in Prince Edward Island and 22% in New Brunswick, with significant production also in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, and Ontario.

Potato production in Canada supports three main markets: processing (68% of total volume), fresh/table (21%), and seed (11%). Processing potatoes are primarily used for French fries, chips, and dehydrated products. Key processing provinces include Alberta, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, while Ontario leads in chip production. Around 150 seed potato varieties are registered for commercial use, with Alberta, Prince Edward Island, and Manitoba as the top seed-producing provinces.

Canada is a global leader in potato exports, with total potato and potato product exports reaching over $3.6 billion in 2023/24. This includes $2.7 billion in French fries, $493 million in fresh potatoes, and $50 million in seed potatoes. The United States is Canada’s largest market, accounting for over 90% of export volumes in all major categories. Meanwhile, Canada imported $534 million worth of potato products, mainly processed potatoes from the U.S.

Potatoes have deep agricultural roots in Canada, first cultivated by settlers in New Brunswick on the Atlantic coast as early as the mid-1600s. Over the centuries, the potato evolved from a regional staple to a cornerstone of Canadian agriculture, becoming the country’s most important horticultural crop. This growth has positioned the potato as a central element in Canada's economy and food supply, with its production expanding significantly since the early 1990s to meet both domestic and international demand. Today, Canada remains one of the world’s top producers and exporters of potatoes, especially frozen potato products, and continues to build on its historical foundation in potato farming.