The potato industry must look at how the burden of consumer and regulatory demands can be rewarded in order to offset the marginal return that growers get from storing their crop, it was put forward at the first-ever Potato Storage Conference 2007 last week.
The British Potato Council event, which saw a turnout of more than 220 growers, advisers and industry specialists, was held near Grantham on January 16.
Norfolk-based grower Tony Bambridge told delegates there are no quick fixes that will bring better returns from stored potatoes. He said: “The market place returns the cost of storing potatoes, but only just. You need to be at the top of your field to succeed financially, and if future investments must be made for health and safety or food safety reasons, this is an issue that the entire industry really needs to address.”
The average cost of potato storage is £35 per tonne, according to BPC figures.
Bambridge added: “It’s a tough economic climate and if you don’t engage in research-based advice, if you don’t understand what your customer wants, you won’t succeed.”
The issue of residues has put an additional strain on growers, according to independent consultant David Hudson. He said: “The pressure on growers is not to keep below the proposed ten parts per million Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). Retailers are demanding no detectable residues whatsoever.”
Hudson stressed that it is impossible to use products such as chlorpropham (CIPC), maleic hydrazide and imazalil effectively without tuber residues. But there are marketing opportunities for growers who choose not to use these products, he added.
The UK potato market has grown by six percent to £870m in the last year, according to TNS data, with the chilled fresh potato sector seeing the biggest growth in 2006.
The biggest change in potato buying over the last ten years is a move away from price-based buying decisions, Ed Garner, TNS communications director, told delegates. He said: “People aren’t looking for cheap. They’re looking for premium, quality products, and they’re more interested in what they’re buying.”
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