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Les Fermes Poitras Inc. was named the 2008 McCain Champion Potato Grower for Grand Falls during the annual McCain Grower Barbecue held August 19 at the Grand Falls Arena.

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More than 250 guests gathered for the recognition of the top 10 growers. Rock Poitras of Les Fermes Poitras Inc., St. André has been contracting potatoes for more than 33 years. Although the farm has been named one of the top 10 eight times before, this is the first time they won top spot.

"I didn't expect to win. This is very exciting," Poitras said.

As champion grower, Poitras received an all-expense-paid trip for two to Bermuda, a personal trophy and a $1,000 cheque.

Allison McCain, Chairman of McCain Foods Limited, and Fred Schaeffer, President and CEO of McCain Foods (Canada), were on hand to extend their personal congratulations to Poitras and the other nine growers making up the top 10.

Potatoes are rated on a variety of factors including size, defect level and color, and Schaeffer noted the importance of Les Fermes Poitras Inc.'s achievement.

"This is an opportunity for us to recognize the efforts of all those here and award those who have managed to go above and beyond in this very special group," he said.

"All of you play a critical role in our business and tonight's primary purpose is to recognize and thank you for all of your efforts over the past year."

Schaeffer also spoke about the difficult time growers and processors are facing in today's radically changing environment.

"Skyrocketing commodity prices are hitting us all," he said. "We are dealing with record prices for everything from fertilizer to frying oil."

He noted that the continued strength of the Canadian dollar, a fiercely competitive marketplace, a slowing economy and eroding consumer confidence are posing real threats to the potato business.

But Schaeffer assured the crowd that McCain is doing all it can to combat these obstacles, including investing in new product innovation, making significant capital investments in technology, adopting global best practices, and driving costs out of the business to improve its competitiveness.

"We are committed to doing whatever it takes to grow our business," he stated.

Agriculture Minister Ronald Ouellette recognized potato growers and processors as "an essential element of New Brunswick's agriculture industry."

He also acknowledged the challenges the industry is facing and said that government is committed to working with potato growers and other sectors of agriculture to meet those challenges and to identify new opportunities.

The other top growers included, in order of final standing: Gilles Desjardins Co. Ltd. (Gilles Desjardins), Drummond; Les Fermes Lionel and Alyre Poitras (Lionel and son Alyre Poitras), St. André; Briggs Potato Ltd. (Ivan and Philip Briggs), Plaster Rock; Dionne Farms (Réginald and son Paul Dionne), Drummond; Briggs Farms Ltd. (Alan Briggs), Plaster Rock; Côté Farms Ltd. (Enoil Côté, son Mike and Enoil's brother Daniel), Drummond; Luc Ouellette & Fils (Luc and sons Réjean and Jean-Luc Ouellette), Drummond; Tepper Farms (Willem and son Erik Tepper), Drummond, and Paul A. Daigle et Fils (Paul and sons Rino and Gérald Daigle), St. André.

Each winner received a plaque and a $1,000 cheque for the accomplishment. Master of ceremonies for the evening was Gilles Moreau. Among those on hand to congratulate the winners were David Good, Vice President Potato Procurement/Agronomy and Farm Operations for McCain Foods (Canada); Steve McCain and Vernon Thomas, Joint Managing Directors of McCain Produce, Yves Leclerc, Director Agronomy, Trevor Rowsell, Field Department Manager for New Brunswick and Chris Petty, Grand Falls Plant Manager.

Other guests who attended the event included Mike Allen, MP for Tobique- Mactaquac, Grand Falls Mayor Marcel Deschênes, St. André Mayor Lionel Poitras, and Drummond Mayor Cyril Rioux.