UK can replace imports
UK can replace imports
of early crisping spuds imports
By Andrew Blake
POTATO growers outside the traditionally early production areas could help counter imports of early set skin salad and crisping supplies by covering their crops with fleece and planting large seed, BPC-funded trials at Harper Adams University College have suggested.
The UK knows relatively little about how to produce such crops, according to the Councils Mike Storey, who says the country imports 50,000t a year of early set skin salad samples from France, Italy, Spain and Israel and 17,000t of early crisping potatoes from France and Spain.
It makes sense to examine whether some of those imports could be substituted by UK-grown crops, he says. "We know the markets are there and food miles are becoming an important issue."
But much more needs to be known about the effects of protecting the crop in its early stages, seed ageing and size, and planting depth and spacing, he adds.
The trials highlight distinct differences between various treatment combinations. But the best approaches will not be determined until final yields are assessed.
Signs are that using fleece and large seed could have mid-March planted Maris Peer for the punnet market on the supermarket shelves by the middle of June, according to NIABs Pete Saunders. "Thats quite encouraging."
The economics of using fleece to advance the crop, which costs about £300/ha (£120/acre) for the material alone, depend very much on when one hits the market, says MBMs Tom Dixon.
The work on Lady Rosetta for crisping suggests seed source could affect the end result, he adds. *
(Left) Fry colour in samples from fleece-covered Lady Rosetta is perfectly acceptable, says Tom Dixon.
(Below) Pete Saunders is encouraged by the potential of fleece-covered Maris Peer.