Although other parts of the potato industry are in the doldrums, with lower returns than last year and much higher rejection percentages on account of the wet summer and lifting season, Scottish seed potato growers are busy exporting.
“Although it is too early to be definite, it looks as if there will be another big tonnage being exported this winter,” according to Mark Prentice, the head of seed and exports for the Potato Council.
The main market for Scottish seed is Egypt and loadings started earlier this year to avoid a repetition of last year when severe weather in December interrupted deliveries.
Prentice was speaking ahead of going out next month to Fruit Logistica which is held in Berlin in the first week of February. This is the largest single event in the world for those trading in fruit and vegetables.