Potato Growers Gather to Unearth the Next Generation of Varieties

Branston potato growers gathered on a Lincolnshire farm this week to discover the next generation of varieties that could soon appear on supermarket shelves.

Among the star performers on show was a salad potato which has been developed over the last 10 years and is said to have a delicious nutty taste – and a phureja cross variety called Inca Rosa, described as quick cooking and perfect for making mash. The two varieties are part of the variety development programme from leading potato supplier Branston, which organised the annual field walk event for their growers from Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Organiser Martin Stothard, Branston’s technical lead for seed, varieties and innovation, said the event, in a potato field in Caythorpe, Lincs, was the ideal showcase to introduce growers to new varieties. It coincided with the UK Potato Breeders’ Days being held nearby.

“We’ve been showing a host of varieties that have been undergoing various trials, with some nearing completion for growing commercially in readiness to be packed up for supermarket shelves,” said Martin.

“Our field walk event is a great opportunity to collaborate with growers by demonstrating the new varieties that are coming through and to exchange insights on topics such as yields and disease resistance.

“We are constantly searching for and developing new types of potatoes that will appeal to consumers. It’s a valuable chance for growers to get ahead of the curve in growing their own commercial crops.”

The potatoes on display have been identified as potential candidates to be approved and packed by Branston, which is a main supplier to Tesco. They are grown alongside a commercial potato crop before being dug up and taken to the Branston lab for grading and analysis. The subsequent data is given to the growers to demonstrate their growing attributes, yield and potential performance.

The trial site, rented from GR Ward and Co, who have worked with Branston for more than 25 years, has 25 different plots of varieties. The potatoes are at various stages in their development – evaluation, demonstration, semi-commercial and finally commercialisation.

“The small plots on show to growers included salads, white and red varieties and are a really good test of how they will perform in the field and be produced on a bigger scale,” said Martin. 

“Forward-thinking growers are looking for the next variety that’s a little bit different and can perform well in varying conditions. Our event is a great way of sharing knowledge.”

Branston’s buyers and agronomy experts were also in attendance, along with John Worth, Tesco’s specialist technical and development manager.

John said: “It’s always interesting to attend field visits and talk to growers and suppliers about the new varieties coming through. There is some exciting innovation taking place and, as a company, Tesco has been working hard to get closer to growers so that we can offer the best quality potatoes to our customers.”