Blue Bay Farms

06/13/2024

Grow, grow, grow 🌱 🥔 💪

05/24/2024

Getting our last few rows of potatoes in while it starts to rain, we really couldn’t have asked for better weather is over ! 🥔🌱

05/14/2024

Another sunny day making rows 🥔🌱

05/11/2024

Stunning 🤩 Last night we were able to see the northern lights from our own backyard, it was absolutely incredible!

05/08/2024

It’s happening!! The first rows are in, has officially begun 🥔

05/07/2024

It’s great to be back in the field! We’re working on incorporating winter cover before planting potatoes…soon!!

04/02/2024

45 years ago today, the Nieuwhof family moved from Holland to Rustico to start farming in PEI. A lot has changed since April 2nd, 1979 but our love for this community, farming, and PEI potatoes has not!

11/07/2023

It’s been a bit chilly this week 🥶 we’re working hard to wrap up !

Did you know, potatoes bruise more easily when it is cold?

10/27/2023

Night lights 💡

and

10/10/2023

Things were a bit soggy this morning 🌧️ but we’re back at it now!

07/27/2023

Planting cover crops is one way we invest in the health of the soil! This cover crop is a mix of several different species - each one has unique benefits and together they improve soil health and structure. Another benefit..the pollinators love it! 🐝

07/13/2023

Sunshine and potatoes 😍

06/16/2023

Putting in the last few acres as the fog rolls in is a wrap!

06/01/2023

Making some good progress 😍

06/01/2023

Another day 🥔

03/15/2023

03/03/2023

This week we’re grading red potatoes! These are size C potatoes, meaning they’re smaller than 1.75 inches in diameter. They are washed and polished before heading to the optical sorter which removes potatoes that are not the correct size or that have blemishes. Our team does a final grade before the potatoes head through the metal detector then to be bagged and placed on pallets. 🤗

02/18/2023

Did you know that we grow over 100 potato varieties on PEI of different sizes, shapes, colours, and tastes?

Here is a small sample of some of the ones we grow:

🧡Russets: These are the most widely used potato varieties due to their versatility. These are the most common potatoes used in making French fries but are also great for making fluffy mashed potatoes, dry baked potatoes, and scalloped potatoes. The Russet Burbank is the most popular variety, but other popular russet varieties include Goldrush, Ranger Russet and Russet Norkotah.

🤍Whites: These varieties cover a range of shapes, sizes, and growing seasons.
Superiors are a round white variety that are harvested early in the season and are commonly sold as “new potatoes” in the summer months. Kennebec is another popular round white variety, excellent for making creamy mashed potatoes or used in potato salads, stews or soups. Round white varieties such as Atlantic and Dakota Pearl are popular in making potato chips. Shepody is a long white variety grown primarily as an early season potato for making French fries in PEI.

❤️Reds: Most red potatoes have a rosy, red skin and white flesh. These potatoes are well suited for roasting, boiling or steaming due to their moist, firm texture. They can also make a colourful addition to salads with the skin left on. Popular red varieties include Red Norland and Chieftain.

💛Yellows: With their golden coloured flesh that looks like butter has already been added, yellow varieties are becoming increasingly popular in North America. The most popular yellow variety is definitely the Yukon Gold, popular both in stores and restaurants. Another increasingly popular yellow variety is the Innovator, a longer potato than the Yukon Gold that is somewhat similar to a russet in appearance.

02/15/2023

Happy Canadian Agriculture Day!

We are proud to be Canadian farmers. We work hard to grow safe and nutritious food for others and are constantly learning and innovating on our farm. Our family is privileged to be a part of the Canadian agricultural community and we are grateful for those that work alongside us in this industry every single day.

02/14/2023

You’re spudtacular! ❤️🥔☺️

Happy Valentine’s Day!

12/20/2022

Thank you Gifts From The Heart Inc. for providing food hampers and so much more for Island families! We’re so glad to have the opportunity to provide potatoes this year in partnership with Apex Auto!

We’re very happy to be teaming up with Blue Bay Farms again this year in support of Gifts From The Heart Inc. Christmas hamper campaign. 5000lbs of potatoes will be just a small part of the 800+ food hampers Betty and her team will put together for island families. The number of hampers will be nearly double what they did in 2021, and will go along with the thousands of gifts and toys they also provide for island families.

It’s not too late to donate or lend an hour or two to this great cause at their new location, 10 Maple Hills Ave.

11/15/2022

We have yellow potatoes AND russets available at the farm right now! Stop by and pick up a 50lb bag for $20 🥔

10/19/2022

We harvest our yellow potatoes 15 rows at a time. Two windrowers dig 6 rows of potatoes each, leaving them in single rows in the centre for the harvester to pick up. The harvester picks up these 12 rows while it digs the 3 centre rows itself. 🥔

09/30/2022

It has been quite a week. This is day 6 without power. We’ve been working to clear fallen trees away from potato rows, repairing buildings, and are setting up our unloading line to run with a generator so we can resume harvest.

It is so sad to see the devastation across our beautiful island. But this island is resilient and so are its people. Thank you to everyone providing support in various ways within your communities and to all of those working tirelessly to restore power across the province. We appreciate you.

09/20/2022

We’re close to home harvesting the first of our 2022 potato crop today 🥔

We wish all of our fellow farmers a safe and smooth harvest season!

09/20/2022

The first potatoes of going over the new unloading line!