(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – August 11, 2015) The Prince Edward Island potato industry and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police wish to remind members of the public that the deadline for tips eligible for up to $500,000 ends this Saturday, August 15th! Tips related to recent incidences of tampering with Prince Edward Island potatoes received on or before August 15th are eligible for up to $500,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Tips received from August 16th until October 31st, 2015 will continue to be eligible for the previously announced amount of up to $100,000. Anonymous tips are eligible for the reward.
There have been no arrests to-date in the case of food tampering involving the deliberate insertion of metal objects into potatoes. The potatoes were destined for human consumption and the local industry remains concerned about the effect cowardly acts such as this have on the confidence of consumers in the food supply.
Greg Donald, General Manager of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board, notes that “we encourage anyone who has any information about the insertion of metal objects into potatoes to come forward to the RCMP or Crimestoppers. Potato farmers are preparing for another harvest season and sincerely hope that tips are received that lead to the arrest of those responsible for this serious crime before PEI Potatoes start coming out of the ground again this year.”
Several potato farms have been attacked to date, and Island farms have had to order millions of dollars in foreign material detection equipment in order to protect consumers going forward.
Anyone knowing the individual or individuals involved, or who has information that would assist police in this investigation, can provide information anonymously to Crime Stoppers. Information may be provided to Crime Stoppers by
phone 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS),
via the web at www.peicrimestoppers.com, or
by text Text “TIP162” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).
If they do not wish to remain anonymous, persons may contact the Prince Edward Island RCMP toll-free at 1-844-592-2774. Alternatively, an email can be sent to graeme.shaw@rcmp-grc.gc.ca and an investigator will respond.
Prince Edward Island Potatoes are world renowned for the great taste and quality that comes from growing in the unique red soil of PEI. The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is a producer-controlled organization dedicated to supporting the highest performance of an economically and environmentally sustainable potato industry. The potato industry is worth over $1 billion to the Prince Edward Island economy each year.