Prince Edward Island is once again at the top of the potato world at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Alex Docherty of Cornwall took the grand champion and reserve grand champion titles in the very competitive seed stock division. His winning entry was a sample of Foundation Marcy. The reserve grand champion was from his E111 Superior stock.
In the Superior class, Docherty took first prize. He also claimed red ribbon wins in the other seed stock classes in which he entered. The prize-winning classes in which Skye View Farms claimed top wins were Sebago, Kennebec, Cherokee, and other White varieties; Russet Norkotah, Frontier, or other long Russet; and Norland, Sangre, or other Red/Red-skinned variety.
Docherty also placed very well in the table stock division. His Superior entry placed first. A second prize was awarded to his entry in the Sebago, Kennebec, Cherokee, and other White varieties. Finally, a first prize ribbon was placed on the entry Docherty showed in the class for Russet Norkotah, Frontier, or other long Russet.
Judges for the potato classes were Ken Brown of Whitby, Ontario, and Mary Ruth MacDonald from Kettlby, Ontario.
Visitors to the Royal can also talk about potatoes when they visit the booth operated by the Prince Edward Island Potato Board. This provides patrons to the fair the opportunity to find out more about where and how the champion potato entries are grown.