Potato News from United Kingdom

August 30, 2012

Pepsico UK introduces smartphone app to predict potato yields;i-crop trial results revealed

Smartphone App to predict potato yield PepsiCo and Cambridge University have joined forces to introduce mobile technology to crop planning, with a new smartphone app that will help farmers predict future harvests.

August 28, 2012

Technical in-field workshops to be held at North of England Potato Day

Damage awareness is one of the key topics to be discussed at the North of England Potato Day to be held at Headley Hill Farm, Tadcaster, Yorkshire on September 4.

August 21, 2012

New Headquarters for AKP Group

Nearly £3-million has been invested into making northern Lincolnshire a central hub for the needs of some of the UK’s biggest potato sellers. Elsham Wold has just become the new headquarters for Arundel Kerr Produce Ltd (AKP Group), supplier to superm...

August 21, 2012

Northern Ireland potato blight warning issued

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and CAFRE, Greenmount Campus have issued a further potato blight warning.

August 21, 2012

Progressive Potato Farming conference to highlight new innovation and ideas

After an incredibly challenging season for potato growers, the ADAS Syngenta 2012 Potato Conference and Exhibition is perfectly timed to provide the essential new technical innovation and marketing inspiration for all growers, agronomists and potato industry specialists.

August 21, 2012

La primer máquina auto expendedora para niños que ofrece exclusivamente snacks saludables

Se ha presentado la primera máquina expendedora para niños en el Reino Unido, una vending que ofrece exclusivamente snacks saludables, batidos y bocadillos, en total doce productos diferentes que los más pequeños podrán elegir. Como se aprecia en la fo...

August 21, 2012

El consumidor comerá más snacks pese a seguir dudando de su salubridad, según reciente estudio

El mercado de los snacks alcanzará los 4.800 millones de euros hacia el 2016 en el Reino Unido, según el informe de mercado de Mintel. No obstante, y a pesar de los buenos augurios, el público sigue manteniendo ciertas ideas preconcebida alrededor de...

August 20, 2012

British growers advised to take care with pulverisation amid high blackleg risk

With bacterial disease blackleg posing a threat to Scottish seed potato crops for a second consecutive season, there was advice at Potatoes in Practice on managing the risk of spread during haulm destruction.

August 20, 2012

How packaging convinces you food tastes better

Supermarket food packaging doesn't just tempt you into putting it in your basket - new Which? research reveals that the packaging actually increases how tasty you perceive a product to be. To test the power of packaging, we asked two groups of people ...

August 19, 2012

Quality problems on the rise for British potato growers

Figures from the Potato Council Grower Panel Lifting Survey estimate that 11,600ha (10%) was cleared to Friday August 10, compared with 12,500 ha (10%) the same week in 2011 and 13,000 ha (10%) in 2010.

August 17, 2012

Food Industry expert Alan Burgess joins Spice Application Systems

Experienced food industry professional Alan Burgess has joined Spice Application Systems (SAS) as a director, taking on responsibility for sales and marketing, project development and day-to-day operations. The move will see Peter King, founder and ma...

August 17, 2012

Blackleg concerns over Scottish seed crop

Wet weather is once again favouring blackleg development in Scottish seed potato crops, although disease levels are believed currently to be below the record levels seen in 2011.

August 16, 2012

Oils could reduce viruses in seed potatoes

The application of oils has the potential to assist in the control of non-persistent viruses in potato seed crops. However, more work is required to establish the effects on seed crops.

August 15, 2012

Potato wart disease cleared from Northern Irish fields

A scheme to clear fields in Northern Ireland of potato wart disease has been hailed as a success.

August 14, 2012

Jerry Knox to speak of lessons from the wettest drought at East of England Potato Day

Jerry Knox from Cranfield University will discuss the lessons learnt from the wettest drought in history at the East of England Potato Day

August 14, 2012

New British app allows potato chip bags to predict the weather

It is probably hard to go wrong with a promotion based on the British obsession with the weather. That is why packets of Walkers crisps, as the Brits call potato chips, will feature augmented reality weather forecasts using an app from Blippar.

August 12, 2012

Dundee conference hears Scotland's potato farmers harvest fears

Scotland's potato farmers are predicting one of the worst harvests in recent years. Crops are expected to be down by as much as 50% in places due to a combination of heavy rain and little sunshine. Producers have said it has been one of the most chal...

August 09, 2012

Potato Council calls on industry to highlight potato diversity in Potato Week

In the run up to Potato Week (1-7 October 2012), Potato Council is turning to growers and farm shops to help spread the message that there is more to potatoes than meets the eye. To coincide with the launch of its high profile consumer campaign that w...