CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – On November 10, 2014, the PEI Potato Board offered a reward of up to $50,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for inserting sewing needles into potatoes of Linkletter Farms Ltd. which were destined for human consumption. The local industry was concerned about the effect this cowardly act would have on that family farm and on the confidence of consumers in the food supply. However, the wish to help has not been isolated to just PEI growers and other members of the Island potato industry. The Board has recently been offered support from new sources.
One of these is Peak of the Market, a Manitoba grower-owned vegetable supplier that has provided quality produce in Manitoba for 72 years, has contacted the Board and Linkletter Farms to offer a substantial donation to the reward fund. “As an industry we cannot stand by and allow others to interfere in the supply of safe food,” says Peak of the Market Board Chair Keith Kuhl.
This was a welcome addition to the substantial support seen so far from the Island potato industry and the Prince Edward Island government. At the Potato Board’s Annual General Meeting on November 21, Hon. George Webster, PEI Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, announced that his Department would be adding $10,000 to the reward fund established by the Prince Edward Island potato industry.
“If there is anything good that can be said to come from this mess, it is the sense of solidarity everyone has shown us. Hopefully the reward will help to identify the culprit and bring this tampering episode to an end,” said Gary Linkletter, co-owner of Linkletter Farms.
With these and other new industry contributions, the reward being offered is now $100,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. Anonymous tips are now eligible for the reward.
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, they may contact the Prince Edward Island RCMP directly at (902) 436-9300. Alternatively, an email can be sent to craig.eveleigh@rcmp-grc.gc.ca and an investigator will respond.
This reward is in effect for tips received up until January 31, 2015.
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 association 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.
Source: The Prince Edward Island Potato Board
