Potato Review

40 POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2020 PLANTING B rexit-induced concerns over imports/exports and phytosanitary agreements seem like a distant memory. Yet worries about labour continue to dominate, albeit for a very di erent reason - covid-19. Drastically distorting consumption and putting unprecedent demand on supply chains, the pandemic has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of critical infrastructure, pushing issues such as food-security up the agenda of consumers and political leaders alike. Growers, meanwhile, went from one of the wettest winters on record, to one of the warmest and sunniest Aprils. Previously sodden elds dried, creating near-perfect planting conditions and restoring cautious hope for the season ahead. “On the whole, it’s likely to be a late season with reduced acreage,” says Archie Gibson, Executive Director of Agrico, one of the UK’s largest seed potato suppliers. “While the crisping and pre-pack sectors have bene ted from lockdown, bagging and chipping markets have both su ered with the closures of shops and Quick Service Restaurants (QSR). e biggest loss of acreage is likely to come from the processing sector, as shrinking demand hit growers hard after they had taken delivery of seed for crop 2020. Why a healthy canopy is essential for top quality potatoes Successful planting is recorded, despite a troubled season. Processors have struggled to balance the overnight fall o in demand resulting in factory over capacity and productions lines being moth balled or worse factories closed. Plans for crop 2020 were made well in advance of COVID-19 so the shutdown of the economy has prompted revisions to production plans and the cancellation of seed orders. “At the same time, some customer / growers have come on late looking for seed resulting in a busy end to planting season with some orders being delivered directly to the eld,” said Archie. Last minute ordering coincided with the lockdown. Sales Manager at Agrico, Alex Moore, explained how it a ected business: “Everyone has done very well to get the seed potatoes out to farms – we’ve sold nearly every tonne. From the skeleton team in the o ce, running the job while social distancing, to the hauliers who were under immense pressure when there was a run on the supermarkets. “And it’s not just Agrico that stepped up. e whole supply chain has maintained production in some very challenging conditions. On farms, tractor drivers are sticking to just one vehicle, grading stations have had screens added to ensure workers are protected and many more hand-washing stations have been installed.” Patrick Sleigh, seed grower. Alex Moore Planting taking place in Lincolnshire. Archie Gibson, Executive Director of Agrico