Potato Review

4 POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 NEWS Editor Stephanie Cornwall 01778 395055 stephanie.cornwall@warnersgroup.co.uk Advertising Manager eresa Geeson 01778 392046 theresag@warnersgroup.co.uk Publisher Juliet Loiselle 01778 391067 Julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk Design Dean Cole deanc@warnersgroup.co.uk Subscriptions 01778 392464 subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk Subscriptions & advertising copy Potato Review, Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH www.potatoreview.com ISSN 0961–7655 © AREMI Ltd 2018 e publishers are not necessarily in agreement with opinions expressed in this journal. No responsibility can be accepted for statements made by contributors or advertisers. POTATO REVIEW is published by: Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH Printed by Warners (Midlands) Plc Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9PH November/December 2022 PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111 First Polish outing for Europatat Congress THE Polish Potato Federation and Europatat have jointly announced that the next Europatat Congress will take place in Gdańsk, Poland from June 5th to 7th next year. The annual Europatat event has become a key platform to assess the state of play of the potato sector and to communicate the priorities and challenges facing the potato business in Europe and beyond. It is the first time the congress has taken place in Poland. Gdańsk is today Poland’s maritime capital and one of the largest ports on the Baltic Sea. Participants will review the dierent activities of Europatat during the meetings of its five Commissions (consumption potatoes, seed potatoes, sustainability, technical and regulatory issues, and RUCIP), the Europatat General Assembly will take place and speakers will explore the impact of current geopolitics for the potato trade as well as the latest Polish potato trade sector’s developments. President of the Polish Potato Federation, Tomasz Bieńkowski, said: “We are very excited to bring the Europatat Congress 2023 to Poland for the first time ever. Currently, we are the second largest producer of potatoes in the EU and the potato industry has a significant share in Polish food production, in which annual turnover reaches several billion zlotys. “In the face of the ongoing war in Ukraine, it is extremely important that the Europatat Congress will be held in Poland. As the President of Polish Potato Federation, I would like to cordially invite representatives of the potato industry from Europe and around the world to the Europatat Congress 2023 in Gdańsk.” President of Europatat Tigran Richter said: “This year we are looking at a very interesting edition of our Congress in Poland, a very important market for potatoes. The Congress will provide a lot of substantive discussions for colleagues around Europe and beyond on the future of the potato trade given the current geopolitical and economic constraints.” Besides the professional working programme, the Congress will also oer several social events such as cocktails and a Gala Dinner and there will also be a visit to the site of Farm Frites Poland Dwa (which has been awarded the title of McDonalds’ Flagship Farm) and the Podole Wielkie potato farm and distillery. Participants will also have the opportunity to cruise to the Baltic Sea spa town of Sopot in an exclusive tour, followed by a welcome cocktail and food reception in the evening. SPRING SPUD SHORTAGE? FOOD charities in the UK are currently overwhelmed with potato crop overspill, according to a report in The Guardian, while experts predict shortages this spring. Mild autumn weather led to a glut of UK potato crops, leading to large amounts of waste and prompting fears of shortages shortages early next year. President of the Country Land and Business Association Mark Tufnell told The Guardian: “Severe drought through the summer has played havoc with crop yields, and now consumer demand for winter vegetables is being damaged by unseasonably warm November weather. Whilst supermarkets are adapting by oering vegetables – such as potatoes and brassicas – of a smaller size, many are refusing to pay farmers a price that would cover the cost of production. This is leaving farmers with no choice but to limit the quantity of food they are producing.” Guy Singh-Watson, Founder of the organic vegetable box company Riverford, told the Guardian he had hundreds of tonnes of surplus vegetables as a result of the “astonishing” weather. He has been working with FareShare, a charity that distributes surplus food to those in poverty, to get the extra potatoes to those who need them. He envisaged there being shortages of potatoes in January and February.