Northern Irish potato business welcomes VIPs following Ireland’s first-ever hosting of the World Potato Congress
Ireland’s hosting of the 11th World Potato Congress culminated with 30 delegates from countries around the world visiting Wilson’s Country in Co Armagh.
The event provided the guests with an opportunity to observe how Ireland’s largest potato packing and processing operation is managed.
Wilson’s Country supplies a selection of the largest supermarket groups throughout the UK and Ireland, and is currently investing £1m a year in new technologies, processing and storage systems.
Chairman and CEO Angus Wilson said: ”The visit provided us with a tremendous networking opportunity. This is the first time that Ireland has hosted a WPC, and the global reach of potatoes continues to expand. New technologies are fast impacting on the sector, and Wilson’s Country wants to be at the very heart of these developments.
“The opportunity of meeting and interacting with so many people with real influence across so many aspects of potato breeding, production and processing was one that we could not turn down.”
Wilson’s Country employs 130 people and processes 850t of potatoes per week. “New product development is a key focus for the business,” Wilson explained. “In addition, the company’s management works closely with our growers to ensure that they have access to the latest agronomic advice they need in order to maximise crop yield and quality in the most sustainable manner.”
Wilson added that he agreed with the sentiment at the end of the congress calling on the United Nations to commit to an annual World Potato Day. “The potato is a uniquely valuable source of nutrition for people of all ages, and I feel it would be wholly appropriate for the UN to officially recognise this fundamental fact at this time.”
