News on The Potato Supply Chain from United Kingdom

September 15, 2011

Worker crushed in potato harvester

A Cupar farming partnership has been fined £112,500 after a worker was killed when he was crushed between the rollers of a potato harvester. Keith Wannan, 34, from Cupar, died as he was replacing rubber sleeves on the rollers of a potato harvester to ...

Guinness Book of records: World's Largest potato

September 15, 2011

Nottinghamshire gardener grows world's heaviest potato

A potato grown by an amateur gardener in Nottinghamshire has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's heaviest. The 11lb (4.99kg) spud was grown by Peter Glazebrook in his garden at Halam, near Newark in Nottinghamshire. The prev...

September 05, 2011

Potato emergence unaffected by working soil at depth due to dry conditions

Latest results from cultivations work at Cambridge University Farm show that working the soil at depth has had no effect on emergence this year, due to the dry conditions. "These are different to our previous results,"admitted Mark Stalham o...

September 05, 2011

UK: Cost of potato irrigation has doubled since 2005

The rising cost of irrigation was one of the topics discussed at the East of England Potato Day in Suffolk last week. The cost of applying water to potato crops is rising fast and has doubled since 2005, according to Jerry Knox of Cranfield University...

August 29, 2011

New brand identity for Rudolph, Fenmarc's exclusive potato variety

A vibrant brand identity and integrated PR and marketing campaign will position Rudolph as the potato variety that caters for all tastes. With its distinctive red skin, this premium red main crop potato is extremely versatile and reliable.

August 25, 2011

Potato prices down as supply exceed demand

Potato prices in the United Kingdom have dropped again, with available supplies exceeding demand due to the early harvest. The Potato Council's weekly average price fell by 12% in the week to 19 August, to £120.65/t - £50/t below the same time last y...

August 25, 2011

Large potato crop canopies posing desiccation challenges

Desicant application trials to monitor spray deposition in different parts of the potato crop canopy have demonstrated that the angled Syngenta Potato Nozzle gives better all-round coverage of leaves and stems at all heights of the leaf canopy, compare...

August 22, 2011

Matthew Smallwood New Head of the potato team at SAC

Matthew Smallwood has been appointed as SAC’s Senior Potato Consultant and will be based at SAC’s Perth Office. Matt will work closely with Dr Stuart Wale, who continues to work for SAC on a reduced-days basis. He will co-ordinate activity with the oth...

August 18, 2011

Bumper English crop means potato growers are facing lowest returns for years

Potato growers in Pembrokeshire are facing up to their lowest returns for years after the fine spring meant a bumper early crop from eastern England hitting the marketplace just as the season peaks for Welsh farmers. One of the major buyers described ...

August 16, 2011

Award Winning SAC Student Answers Questions on pit rot of Potatoes

SAC 1st Class Honours graduate, Amanda MacLennan, from the Black Isle used the recent Potatoes In Practice Event near Dundee to present the results of her research into Pit rot of potatoes.

August 15, 2011

Export vital for Scottish seed potato business

Securing the recent growth in Scottish seed potato exports was as important as looking to develop new markets, Mark Prentice, the Potato Council's head of seed and export told growers at Potatoes in Practice held near Dundee. Total seed exports had sm...

August 14, 2011

Water recycling plant helps potato packing firm cut water use by 85%

A £1M water recycling plant in the South West has enabled potato packer and distributor Branston to reduce its use of mains water by 85%. As a result of the plant in Ilminster, Somerset, Branston is saving 41 cubic metres of mains water a day, as wast...

August 11, 2011

Rise in blackleg 'major concern' for Scottish seed potato growers

Word from the seed potato fields indicates increased levels of the bacterial disease blackleg in crops over the past month. Yesterday the talk was transformed into figures, with officials from the Scottish Government's Science &Advice for Scottish...

August 10, 2011

McCain Foods regional CEO: Innovation critical in processed potato sector

Pushing the boundaries is critical to success, according to McCain Foods regional CEO Nick Vermont. Speaking at the East Midlands Potato Day held at QV Foods, Holbeach Hurn, Lincolnshire, (July 5) he spoke of McCain Foods’ objective of innovation to m...

August 08, 2011

Introducing the Top Ten potato varieties in Great Britain in 2011

The Potato Council has produced provisional estimates of planted area for the top ten varieties grown in Great Britain. These varieties account for approximately 55% of total GB plantings. Areas in hectares of top ten potato varieties in GB in 2011...

August 03, 2011

Britse aardappeloogst nadert 35 ton per hectare

Britse aardappeltelers hadden tot eind vorige week 8.324 hectare gerooid. Dat bracht in totaal 290.399 ton op, wat een gemiddelde opbrengst van 34,9 ton per hectare betekent. Die opbrengst ligt daarmee al meer dan 5 ton per hectare hoger dan vorig jaar...

July 25, 2011

Rudolph potatoes promoted by PR agency Ceres

Fenmarc has appointed food PR agency Ceres for the launch of its new season Rudolph potatoes. Reading based Ceres will be expected to run an integrated trade PR campaign, which will include adverts and the launch of a microsite. The campaign will aim...

July 25, 2011

Protest against GM Potatoes in Norwich

Dozens of campaigners against genetically modified food have staged a protest in Norwich city centre. Passers-by were offered chips made from non-genetically modified potatoes before the protest moved on to the John Innes Institute on the outskirts of...