On the store shelves we see 5, 10, and 20 lb bags. The 50 lb bags are most likely the burlap (or plastic equivalent) that are sold commercially. What I see is that the Canadian producer has "bagging" machine with a single scale -- in pounds since this is what the USDA is requesting. Keep in mind that Canadians sell more potatoes and other crops to the US that then sell to Canada. I think it would be very difficult to convince Canadian officials, who most likely still think in pounds themselves, that Americans can visualize kilograms better than pounds. You can go to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada web site at [ http://www.agr.ca ] and choose the "Contact Us" button. You could even send a message directly to the Minister. I would myself, but you see I work for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and I don't want to cause to much of a fuss. I have often wondered why Canadians didn't market in kilograms since a 5 kg bag of potatoes is about 1 pound heavier than a 10 pound bag. If both were the same price I'm sure shoppers would prefer to get that extra few hundred grams of spuds. greg >>> "Hu, Alfred" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 2001-04-26 10:38:06 >>> Greg, Is there a way that you or someone could contact authorities that there are no 50lb bags and that the US better understand kg units? Or does Canada use 50 lb bags? alfred -----Original Message----- From: Gregory Peterson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 9:23 AM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:12491] more on PEI potatoes from the Agriculture Canada Web Site: http://www.agr.ca/cb/news/2001/n10426be.html I don't know what upsets me more: the fact that the US is restricting our potatoes to 50-pound bags or that they attempted to restrict the movement of Canadian potatoes between the Canadian provinces. I thought that Canada was a sovereign country, obviously, on certain matters, I was mistaken. BACK GROUNDER * P.E.I. POTATOES Canada and the U.S. have agreed on a set of conditions that allow the movement of potatoes grown in Prince Edward Island to the U. S. and within Canada. The following are the specific conditions outlined in the agreement with respect to the year 2000 crop: Four zones have been established with various conditions for the movement of potatoes. Zone One is the field where the disease was detected and a half-mile buffer area around the field. Zone Two consists of all fields that have used the same farming equipment as the infected fields. Zone Three consists of the area surrounding and between Zones One and Two. Zone Four is the remainder of P.E.I., which accounts for more than 80 per cent of the province's land. The U. S. will accept tablestock potatoes from Zone Four of PEI provided that the potatoes are washed and treated with sprout inhibitor. These potatoes can move in packages of up to 50 pounds, and must be inspected and certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). All shipments of Zone Four PEI potatoes must enter the U.S. through the port of Houlton, Maine. The U.S. is reducing the most stringent requirements regarding movement of P.E.I. potatoes in Canada. Tablestock potatoes from Zones Three and Four may move in packages up to 50 pounds and meet Canada's No. 1 standard of cleanliness. These potatoes will no longer have to be washed and sprout inhibited. Bulk shipments of potatoes for processing will no longer have to be washed but are subject to CFIA surveillance. Seed potatoes may move within Canada from Zones Three and Four subject to CFIA inspection and certification activities. This agreement for the 2000 crop year will allow Canada and the U.S. to begin discussions of measures to be implemented for the 2001 crop year of P.E.I. potatoes. In that regard, the U.S. is committed to sending a team of risk assessment and management specialists, plant pathologists, and regulatory officials to Canada by June 15, 2001 to review surveillance activities, soil surveys, and regulatory inspections.
