Potato tampering tips $500K award deadline Saturday

The potato tampering half-million-dollar award deadline for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved is Saturday.

The first cases of potato tampering were discovered last fall, with needles and other metal objects found in a number of potatoes in the Atlantic region.

Major frozen potato producer Cavendish Farms also reported needles showing up on its production line.

In November, the P.E.I. Potato Board put up a $50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

That was raised to $100,000 in December. Then, the amount was increased to $500,000 in June after more metal objects were found in potatoes in May.

• Potato tampering tips award raised to $500K
• Atlantic Canada potato tampering connections sought
• Potato tampering reward doubled to $100K

The increase was put in place in the hopes that a larger amount of money would provide an incentive for anyone with information to come forward, says Greg Donald, president of the P.E.I. Potato Board.

"As we get closer to harvest time, it would be a relief to the industry if we knew the person was caught prior to harvest of the new crop."

Tips, even anonymous, received from Aug. 16 until Oct. 31 will be eligible for up to $100,000.

Anyone with information can contact RCMP at 1-844-592-2774 or Crime Stoppers.