Hurricane Fiona couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) potato farmers who were about to begin harvesting. Lifting is progressing for those with power or generators on the main roads and further east of the island.
On the other hand, those in the west of the island had much more moisture before the storm and may still be delayed even if power is restored.
“The devastation is nothing like what we have seen before, it is widespread across the island. At first, the main issue was power, then fuel, but now it is the fallen trees. It could take a day for some farmers just to access a field. Fortunately, we are safe and keeping well. I heard this morning the power has been restored to about 55% of the households and businesses. There is an incredible amount of damage. Fortunately only three potato warehouses were lost but many other buildings were lost or damaged in varying degrees. A lot of farms are still without power and a lot of downed trees to contend with. I hope the spuds are ok but the ground is pretty damp and needs to dry out a lot. We do not need any more rain” Greg Donald, the general manager of the PEI Potato Board recently declared, cited by UPGC.
The storm hit PEI in the early morning hours of September 24, leaving widespread destruction. Six days after Fiona, the cleanup was far from over, with most of the Island still without power, and downed trees and power lines still blocking driveways and roads.
A source: https://www.potatobusiness.com
