Potato News from United Kingdom

October 11, 2012

2012 - a watershed year for the UK potato industry.

“The combination of low yielding potato crops, increased crop spraying costs and increased wastage from problems such as greening, soft rots and growth cracks has massively increased the average cost of producing a tonne of potatoes in 2012 to over £20...

October 09, 2012

Potato imports threaten UK crop

No sooner does the risk of importing exotic diseases such as dickeya in seed potatoes appear to be receding than another potential source of harm to the health of the UK crop has reared its head.

October 03, 2012

Greenvale AP picks up another award for their cascade potato washing system

Greenvale AP, the UK’s leading supplier of fresh potatoes, has once again proved it is blazing a trail in reducing water consumption in the fresh produce world, scooping a UK Water Efficiency Award 2012 in the Business and Industry category.

October 02, 2012

Greenvale acquire Rowe Farming Ltd

Produce Investments plc (PI), owners of Greenvale AP Ltd, one of the UK’s largest fresh potato companies, has acquired 100% of the share capital of Rowe Farming Ltd, a specialist new and salad potato and daffodil growing business based in Cornwall.

October 02, 2012

Potato harvest in the United Kingdom still 3 weeks behind

The Potato Council Grower Panel Lifting Survey estimates that 39,000ha (32% of the total crop and just under 7,000ha greater than last week's estimate) was cleared to Friday 28 September, with the GB harvest running approximately three weeks behind las...

October 01, 2012

Potato bruising risk in Britain needs addressing

While recent rain should help boost protective soil intake by harvesters, the risk of potato bruising remains high, potato agronomists and machinery makers are warning.

Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera rostochiensis)

October 01, 2012

PCN resistance among targets of new potato breeding business in the UK

Plant breeding business KWS marked its formal entry into potato breeding in the UK last week, with a demonstration of up-and-coming varieties and an outline of its key breeding objectives for the potato crop.

September 27, 2012

McCain Foods GB launches McCain Simply Potato for Mash for UK caterers

McCain Foods is set to revolutionise the use of mashed potato in UK foodservice with the launch of McCain Simply Potato for Mash from September 2012, enabling caterers to deliver a consistently delicious, creamy and fluffy mash, in just 15 minutes, wit...

September 27, 2012

Burts Chips and Guinness toast the launch of the first ever Guinness flavoured crisp

Artisan, premium crisp brand Burts Chips and Guinness are proud to announce the launch of the world’s first Guinness flavoured crisps, in a move that’s set to mark one of the biggest launches the snack category has seen in years in a deal brokered by g...

September 24, 2012

United Kingdom Seed potato industry sets new export record

The UK seed potato industry is on a high as Potato Council has announced another record year for seed exports, with this year’s figures surpassing 103,000 tonnes. “This year, despite the testing conditions experienced by growers, we have achieved ano...

September 23, 2012

Modern DNA Techniques Applied to Nineteenth-Century Potatoes

Researchers led by Professor Bruce Fitt, now at the University of Hertfordshire, have used modern DNA techniques on late nineteenth-century potatoes to show how the potato blight may have survived between cropping seasons after the Irish potato famine ...

September 23, 2012

Using sprouted potato seed brings benefits in the north of England

Physiological ageing of Markies potato seed can deliver benefits in terms of crop development, yield, quality and storage potential in the north of England. That was the message from McCain commercial agronomist Rob Blades to potato growers attending ...

September 19, 2012

Harvest woes for UK potato growers

A "perfect storm"of misery is hitting the potato sector as lifting slips further behind and prices fail to offset poor yields and quality and rising production costs. Crop clearance is more than three weeks behind schedule, with just 24,000h...

September 09, 2012

Herbert launches Oculus optical sorting for washed potatoes at Potato Europe

Herbert Engineering is set to launch a optical sorting machine at Potato Europe. The Oculus is the next generation in high performance, compact, optical sorting for washed potatoes.

September 09, 2012

British potato breeding changing focus

The days of a few big varieties dominating the potato market are over, with breeding programmes becoming more focused on delivering sustainable varieties for specific markets.

September 05, 2012

Britain's seed potato community to come together at Seed Industry Event in November

GB’s seed potato community will be coming together to keep up-to-date on plant health and variety breeding at this year’s Seed Industry Event at Crieff Hydro near Perth, Scotland on November 20.

September 03, 2012

British potato harvest running behind last season

Figures from the Potato Council Grower Panel Lifting Survey estimate that 16,000ha (13% of the total crop and 3,000ha greater than last week's estimate) was cleared to Friday 31 August, with the GB harvest running approximately three weeks behind last season.

September 02, 2012

Top speakers to attend first North West Potato Day in Britain

Potato growers are invited to the first North West Potato Day to be held at Aston Grange, Aston, Runcorn, Cheshire on September 18 to discuss with the experts some of the challenges they have faced this year.