b'Harvested PSPG15-8-1 tubers.PHOTO: PETER VANDERZAAGThree varieties, PSPG 15-80-81, PSPGearlier the closer they are planted to 15-90-1, and PSPG 15-80-9LB, are beingthe equator as the length of the day tested internationally in countries inThis is really helping usdetermines how long itll take a potato to Africa, Asia, and back in Canada ingrow. Numerous clones with the parent Winkler, Man. at Kroeker Farms and atin our work to make thisCooperation 88 were selected having all EarthFresh, Wider Sky Farms and Sunrisea reality by providingbeen adapted to long day conditions.Potatoes in Ontario, this year. Theyll alsoThe next consideration the group be tested soon in South America. Thewhat we think are thelooked at for picking varieties was varieties have resistance to late blight andright materials to selectconsumer preference. In Burma, they just may help move potato productionfrom to have a localwant white skinned varieties. While in forward internationally and in Canada. Kenya theres starting to be more western variety well adapted,fast-food restaurants, so buyers want International Interest resistant to late blightvarieties such as russet for fry making. VanderZaags contacts in the Philippines,This is really helping us in our work Guinea and Kenya, were struggling withand can meet theto make this a reality by providing what late blight taking out their potato crops.demand of the buyer.we think are the right materials to select They were wanting late blight resistantfrom to have a local variety well adapted, variety options and asked him for help. PETER VANDERZAAG resistant to late blight and can meet VanderZaag started by receiving thethe demand of the buyer, VanderZaag potato variety Cooperation 88 (SP328 inexplains.Canada) from China back to Canada toresistance to late blight, the cookingThe varieties the group settled on are work with. The variety wasnt adaptedqualities of Cooperation 88 and the frenchPSPG 15-80-81, PSPG 15-90-1, and PSPG for Canadian conditions and wouldfry qualities of Shepody and Prospect,15-80-9LB. There are other varieties which produce excess foliage, long stolonswhile being adapted to long and short-dayare being tested in various countries, and many small tubers. VanderZaag,growing conditions. but the three main ones being trialled and the CPPBN group he was workingFrom there they were able to selectinternationally and in Canada are these with, decided to cross it with Shepodyclones that ranged from early maturing tothree. and Prospect, two french fry varieties.medium maturing in Canada. VanderZaagPSPG 15-80-81 is an attractive long The hope was the offspring would havenotes late maturing varieties will matureyellow high yielding variety that produces 40SPUDSMART.COM Fall 2022'