Growers have slammed Defra inspectors for failing to match soil tolerance standards in the Canary Islands leading to potato export consignments being rejected.
Essex potato growers have incurred around £250,000 in losses this season after 24 consignments were rejected and returned from long-term import country the Canary Islands, where they failed to meet soil tolerance standards. The issue has been ongoing since August 2014 but growers are now concerned that it will not be sorted before planting programmes begin for next season.
Export containers had passed tests on leaving the UK, but were rejected on arriving at the Canaries and sent back leaving growers to shoulder significant haulage costs.
The Canaries, which are outside the EU, have a lower soil tolerance level (around one per cent) than the wider EU specifications (two per cent).
“I rest the blame fair and square with Defra. They should be on top of market communication,” said grower David Kerr, of Wilding Tree Farm, who has had seven containers sent back this season and believes he has lost around £45,000.
“The worst part of it is they’re sending them back to the UK with massive haulage costs. The cost of haulage is around £4,900 per container, including lorries and shipping,' he said.
“There is clearly a mismatch in what is understood in terms of tolerances. As I understand it Defra is trying to level the playing field. But we still don’t know where we stand for next season. We need some action from our ministers.
'There have been no complaints from consumers or importers, this is purely a government and civil service issue.'
A spokesperson for Defra said that negotiations are taking place to clarify export standards. “We understand the concerns about potato exports to the Canary Islands. Defra is working with the Spanish authorities to clarify what export standards are acceptable to the Canary Islands to help ensure there are no future problems,” the spokesperson said.
There are now concerns about next season, as 90 per cent of the Essex potato crop is usually exported to the Canary Islands.
“The season is now almost over, but growers want to know where they stand for next season,” said Ian Bell, of exporter Pan European Potatoes (PEP). “In total they have lost about £250,000 this season, from transportation costs, labour and the fall in potato prices during the interim period.”
Bell said the export relationship between Essex and the Canaries has been established for 40 years. “I’ve been doing it for 22 years and I’ve never seen anything rejected before,” he said. “We think it may be more political than anything else, as importers are under pressure from local potato growers. They are not playing fair.
“It’s something their businesses can’t withstand if the export trade to the Canary Islands ends,” he said.
Kerr said the export trade with the Canaries accounts for around half of his business. “If it ends I will have to look at reducing acreage and focus on more contracted commitments to supermarkets,” he said.
He suggested that the issue may have arisen this season because the country’s own producers have had a larger crop.
Head of seed and exports at Potato Council, Robert Burns, said the problem has come from a combination of wet harvest conditions and heavy soils in the Essex growing region.
“Soil tolerance is a difficult factor to assess. Washing and brushing isn’t a process the Essex potato growers usually do – they usually just lift and ship. In addition, they plant in heavier soils to get a lighter skin finish, but this risks having a high soil tolerance.”
Burns said growers in regions with lighter soils, including Scottish growers, had no problems this year. “The advice to growers is to go back to plant health inspectors in the UK and have a conversation about next season,” he added.
