'Nothing into something': Little potatoes turn into big success for Edmonton company
A produce company with Edmonton roots has found big success with tiny potatoes.
The Little Potato Company unveiled its new $39.5 million facility in Nisku on Thursday.
The new 240,000-square-foot building can distribute up to 125 million pounds of potatoes each year.
"It’s state of the art," said founder Angela Santiago. "We’ve thought of a lot of sustainable things like solar panels and recycling water."
Santiago and her father started the Little Potato Company in 1996, growing and harvesting the potatoes themselves on a one-acre plot of land just a few blocks from the new processing plant.
The company now has more than 400 employees, with 200 working in the new building.
"It’s a celebration of something that grew from nothing into something," Santiago said.
"There's a sense of accomplishment but also calmness," she said. "Because I think there’s still lots of opportunity for growth, so it’s still very exciting."
Alberta's minister of agriculture and irrigation said the new facility is part of a "thriving" agricultural industry in the province.
"This facility is so high tech that in the shipping facility, the lights come on and off to anticipate where the forklifts are going to make sure it’s as energy efficient as possible," said RJ Sigurdson.
According to Sigurdson, 80,000 acres of potatoes were grown in Alberta in 2023. That's up from 73,000 the year before.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says
Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after a search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.
What we know so far about the helicopter crash that killed Iran's president
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
The push to Parliament's summer hiatus is about to begin, here's what you need to know
When MPs file back in to the House of Commons on Tuesday, it will be for the final five-week parliamentary push before hitting the barbecue circuit. Looking ahead to what could be a raucous rush to the summer hiatus, CTVNews.ca spoke with top House representatives to get a sense of what's atop their priority list.
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with their actions during the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas.
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with US$100 million in financing commitments
U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you’ve been to a party lately and haven’t seen someone drinking a BORG, you’re likely not partying with college students.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Your kids' ultraprocessed food consumption may put them at higher risk, study shows
The ultraprocessed foods your kids eat now may be putting them at greater risk for cardiometabolic problems – like heart attack, stroke and diabetes – in adulthood, a new study suggests.