A tractor-trailer full of P.E.I. potatoes was parked on Parliament Hill as people in Ottawa were able to get one of 6,000 free bags of spuds from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. The giveaway was organized in part by the P.E.I. Potato Board. 

"It's our biggest economic generator, and when the potato industry hurts in Prince Edward Island, everybody hurts," Premier Dennis King said.

"We want to come up, keep it top of mind up here in Ottawa and demonstrate again to our politicians in Ottawa just how important this is."

It's been more than two weeks since the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced it was suspending fresh potato trade to the U.S. following the discovery of potato wart in two Island fields.

Last week, the CFIA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture held a meeting to discuss the issue. But the province said the border shouldn't have been closed to begin with, as the Island has had a management plan in place to control the fungus since it was first discovered on P.E.I.

"As far as we're concerned, we're 100 per cent confident with our potatoes, with the plan that's been in place for 20 years to manage the issue and we don't understand why this disruption right now," said Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board.

"We'd like have the folks come together, have the appropriate discussions, whatever needs to be resolved. But as soon as we can to get things moving."

At the ones still operating, supervisors are trying to spread out the work to keep as many people getting hours as possible. 

On Nov. 21, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency suspended U.S. trade in fresh P.E.I. potatoes following the discovery of potato wart in two Island fields.

At Mid Isle Farms in Albany, P.E.I., they are packing potatoes heading to their Canadian customers, but 60 per cent of their sales so far this year were south of the border and they were expecting that to continue, or even grow. 

Dave Masters said there would usually be between 27 and 30 people on the production line, when they are busy, and they are now down to 17 or 18. (Nancy Russell/CBC)

The rest, he said, have been sent home because there is just not enough work. 

"Right now, I guess they are either looking for work, or hoping that they're going to get called back when business picks up again," Masters said. 

"Hopefully they have EI or something to fall back on right now. Other than that, we're unable to keep everybody busy because of the shutdown, so it's impacting us really bad."

Masters said the two or three weeks before Christmas are usually very busy, and would have meant extra income for many of the workers at Mid Isle. (Nancy Russell/CBC)

Masters said the timing — just before Christmas — is especially unfortunate.

"The holiday season is usually a busy time for us, usually two weeks, three weeks before Christmas, we are really busy and that obviously is affecting us right now, we are down to half a crew," Masters said. 

"It's going to affect a lot of people having the cash flow for Christmastime. We were en route to give a lot of hours. People would be making more money just before Christmas, and that's not going to happen."

Kim Gavin has been working at Mid Isle Farms for 10 years and lives in nearby Borden-Carleton. (Nancy Russell/CBC)

Kim Gavin, who lives in nearby Borden-Carleton, has been part of the production crew for 10 years.

She is working this week, but the future is uncertain.

"Just happy to be here, to be working. I just got my EI going last week," Gavin said. "Just keep steady, keep going, hope for the best." 

Losing workers

General manager Andrew Costa joined Mid Isle this fall, just as they were gearing up for a large harvest and lots of sales.

Now he's facing the consequences of the export ban to the United States and what it means to the employees.

"We are constantly focusing on trying to bring in the best people, and train them, and make sure that they're qualified to run their operations. But that takes time and skill and cost," Costa said.

General manager Andrew Costa said he hopes the federal government and officials in Ottawa understand the urgency of the situation. (Nancy Russell/CBC)

"The concern is that we can't provide those hours, and then we're running the risk they need to go look for work elsewhere," Costa said.

"Then when the border does reopen, we're going to potentially be at a loss for production crew members to ensure that we're able to move the product that we need to at that time." 

Ending a suspension of trade in fresh potatoes from P.E.I. to the United States is a top priority for the Canadian government, says federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.

The trade suspension was ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday, following the discovery of potatoes infected with potato wart in two P.E.I. fields in October. Bibeau told CBC's Island Morning host Mitch Cormier she understands how important potatoes are for the P.E.I. economy and even the identity of Islanders.

"I really get it, and I am working extremely hard with the team to solve the situation as soon as possible," said Bibeau.

"I am confident that we will convince the Americans that our fresh potatoes are safe, they do not present a risk for their soil, for their land. And they desperately need our very high-quality potatoes as well."

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed P.E.I. potatoes in Washington last week, said Bibeau. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

Potato wart disfigures potatoes and reduces crop yield, but is not a threat to human health. The U.S. lists it as a serious threat to agriculture.

CFIA implemented the suspension to forestall a ban from the American side. Bibeau said she feels trade will resume more quickly if trade is stopped from the Canadian side of the border.

"I know that it hurts, but I prefer to keep control on our Canadian side than be subjected to an American ban," she said.

'They have to be reassured'

P.E.I. farmers this year had been celebrating the best harvest in generations. With below-average crops in Manitoba and Alberta, prices were also good.

The P.E.I. Potato Board estimates the value of P.E.I. potato exports to the U.S. at $120 million.

In a news conference Monday, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King strenuously objected to the suspension, saying it was based on politics and not on science.

Bibeau said Canada needs to reassure its American trading partner that P.E.I. potatoes pose no risk of spreading potato wart.

"Science is not black or white. I think they are going beyond and they are asking for too much, but, I mean, it is still a scientifically based discussion that we have to have," she said.

"They have to be reassured that even if we have found more cases on the Island that our protocols are strong enough."

Those protocols may need to be strengthened, said Bibeau.

P.E.I. potato growers blindsided

Randy Visser, a potato farmer and packer from Orwell Cove, P.E.I, said he couldn't have ever foreseen the decision.

"All these machines where running at full capacity, and today they're quite idle and quiet," he said. 

He said the suspension shuts off P.E.I. from important markets in the U.S. East Coast and the American territory of Puerto Rico, representing about 70 per cent of their sales and volume. It potentially impacts both staffing and storage.

"We have potatoes in storage and we have a schedule laid out to ship approximately a million-plus pounds a week through this plant. You can imagine how quickly that will start to bunch up. Eventually, we may run out of time to move those potatoes."

Ray Keenan, owner of Rollo Bay Holdings, say it could take years for the industry to recover if the suspension isn't lifted soon. About half of his farm's product is U.S.-bound.

"Everybody's business plan was destroyed overnight," he said.

Farmers aren't the only ones affected

Trucking companies on P.E.I. were also left reeling by the news of the suspension.

"My stomach turned over," said Scott Annear, co-owner of Morley Annear Ltd., which delivers potatoes to Boston, Pennsylvania, Florida and sometimes as far as Texas.

"We don't know how long this is going to last. We don't know what our options are. I'm sort of at a loss for words," he said, noting about a third of his business is exports to the U.S.

"It's devastating."

Tyson Kelly, owner of Bulk Carriers, said he was shocked by the news. While he is already booking to ship other products to replace that potato business, he said the loss of shipping will be a further economic impact for the province.

"There's other products that we can ship," said Kelly.

"For us it's not as devastating as it is for all our local farmers. At the end of the day the farmers are the ones impacted to the greatest extent."

In statement jointly attributed to agriculture critic John Barlow and health critic Luc Berthold, the Conservative Party said the suspension was evidence of a failed trade relationship between the Liberal government and the U.S.

"In classic Liberal fashion, this ban was made in the middle of the night, with no consultation and no plan to support the workers impacted by this decision," the statement said.

The statement demanded a detailed plan to support P.E.I. farmers.

American potato growers say it's not a 'Canada vs. U.S.' issue

Kam Quarles, CEO of the U.S.'s National Potato Council, said he was sympathetic toward the province's potato farmers, but that the suspension was necessary.

"I think anyone involved in agriculture anywhere in the world, at some point, is going to deal with pest and disease issues, and it's just a matter of time," he said.

"It's unfortunately a very difficult situation and we're hopeful that it's dealt with efficiently — both by the CFIA, and we stand ready with the U.S. to deal with it efficiently as well."

WATCH | P.E.I. vows to fight potato export ban: