Canadian grower hopes to bring Smilin’ Eyes Irish Gold to US

Johnny MacLean, a potato grower in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, is setting his sights on the U.S. market for his Smilin’ Eyes Irish Gold potatoes.

MacLean bough the exclusive North American rights for the seed from the Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI). Some stores in PEI have already started selling MacLeans’ Smilin’ Eyes Irish Gold potatoes.

Here’s more from CBC News:

“The eyes on them are kind of flashed pink eyes, and some of them look like they’re smiling at you, that’s why I named them Smilin’ Eyes, MacLean said.

PVMI Executive director Jeanne Debons said MacLean submitted a marketing plan outlining why he should get an exclusive contract for Smilin’ Eyes in North America. The five-year contract cost $15,000, and PVMI charges a $1 per hundredweight royalty on the seed.

MacLean planted 100 acres of Smilin’ Eyes last spring.

MacLean has his eye on the U.S. market, especially in Boston and New York, where he says there are many people of Irish descent.

Smilin’ Eyes Irish Gold pototoes. Photo: Johnny MacLean

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