Tag Archives: potatoes

Potato industry reacts to acrylamide regulations

The European Commission has asked for comments on proposals on ‘benchmark’ levels for acrylamide which have been published on its website.

The draft project asks for producers to apply measures to reduce levels of acrylamide in products such as chips, crisps and other potato products, as well as other baked goods and coffee. It comes after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its scientific opinion on acrylamide in food; reconfirming previous evaluations that acrylamide in food potentially increases the risk of developing cancer.

The Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation (ETL) stressed, ‘the need of taking regional conditions in to account when assessing the necessity of certain mitigation methods. For example, the use of chemical substances to suppress sprouting has not been seen necessary since cool (winter) storage conditions prevent sprouting. Not using sprouting suppressing agents is also a measure preventing overall exposure to chemicals. Also, the change of raw material or ingredient should not lead to poor or lesser nutritional quality at the cost of lower acrylamide levels.’

In addition, the Finnish Frozen Food and Potato Association (F&P) have written that the suggested benchmark level of 750 µg/kg for potato crisps is too low and could cause problems both for Finnish potato producers and food processors. ‘The acrylamide level should stay at 1000 µg/kg for potato crisps. No health problems reported so far and the recent level is already cutting out the high acrylamide levels from production. Potato crisps are minor products and not part of daily diet,’ they said.

Photo Credit: Flickr

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New Fieldloader options make transportation easier

Tong Engineering has announced a number of new design options for its Fieldloader in-field grader and bulker loading system, including automatic transport-mode features which allow users to make the machine even more compact for road transportation.

“Our Fieldloader is increasingly popular with growers as it means soil is removed in the field and kept off the public roads, plus transport of crop is significantly reduced as there is a no need to transport crop to a central yard or location” explained Charlie Rich, Export Sales Manager at Tong Engineering. “It significantly reduces crop handling times, allowing growers to meet tight deadlines and deliver crop in optimum condition straight from the field.”

The new model of the machine incorporates a transport-mode option featuring a powered elevator section that automatically retracts back under the cleaning and inspecting sections of the machine, making the unit as short as possible when towing on the road. Foldable conveyors are also a feature on the transport-mode design to make the Fieldloader as narrow as possible. The machine is also available with a choice of crop cleaning systems including Tong’s EasyClean separator adjustable coil cleaning unit.

Thetford-based Elveden Farms is currently operating a custom-built Fieldoader, designed to clean and load the farm’s carrot and onion crop straight from the field. Farm Manager Andrew Francis commented, “Our original Fieldloader from Tong has streamlined our post-harvest crop handling times and has allowed us to achieve a very quick turnaround from field to bulker lorries. Our second Fieldloader is now in production and we look forward to increasing our capacity even further.”

Photo Credit: Tong Engineering

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Prepared veg continues to grow

The demand for prepared and ready to cook vegetable products shows no sign of slowing down as Northern Ireland’s Mash Direct wins a distribution contract with Asda.

The deal will see five lines, including sweet potato mash, leek and potato mash, roast potatoes, turnips and carrot and swede sold in Asda stores across Northern Ireland. Mash Direct’s head of marketing Clare Foster, commented, “Mash Direct is delighted to build upon its existing relationship with Asda. By working closely with the retailer over the past 10 years we have gained an understanding of what the Asda shopper is looking for, and are able to respond with new and innovative products.

“The popularity of our locally-sourced range has seen Mash Direct grow into a £16m turnover company – with continuing expansion plans, including the recent completion of a new 25,000 square foot on-site factory.”

Photo Caption: Mash Direct already supplies a range of products to Asda

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European potato production predicted to increase this year

AHDB Potatoes reports that, ‘The first potato area estimate from the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) region suggests a possible increase of 3.6% compared with last season.’

According to the report, the increase would have been even larger, but was curtailed due to the restricted availability of certified seed resulting from lower crop yields last year. Most of the increase in planting has been driven by continued demand from the European processing industry.

‘It is important to note is that the GB proportion of the 2017 area estimate is based on an historical average. The NEPG area estimate is therefore likely to change as more information becomes available,’ added AHDB Potatoes. In order to foresee potential production possibilities for the NEPG region, AHDB has calculated different scenarios based on the 572,000 ha estimate. These range from 25.19 million tonnes based on historic low yields of 44 t/ha, to 29.83 million tonnes based on historic highs.

AHDB analysis suggests that if the current area estimate is realised, production is likely to increase across the NEPG area, even if the yields achieved are similar to the lows of 2012, which was an usually low yielding year. Conditions will determine final planting figures, although many countries are reported to have had ‘ideal’ conditions and made good starts.

Photo Caption: Graph showing historic and predicted planting areas

Photo Credit: AHDB & NEPG

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McCain to invest in Scarborough site

McCain Foods has announced plans to update its manufacturing facility at Scarborough in Yorkshire. Ahead of a formal planning application, the company has shared details of its plans for the site at Eastfield locally.

According to the company the £100 million investment is necessary to secure the success of the plant for decades to come and help it meet growing demand for new products. As well as upgrading equipment, the new plans include landscaping, an anaerobic digester to produce renewable energy and state-of-the-art odour reduction technology.

McCains’ Corporate Affairs Director, Bill Bartlett, commented, “This is a significant investment for McCain, and one that will allow us to meet the ongoing increased demand for our products, address long-term capacity and capability opportunities and deliver the latest technology and broader environmental benefits. This proposal certainly secures our operations in Scarborough and continued employment in the area for decades to come.”

The news comes just a month after the company said it would be closing its cold storage operations at the site, putting 74 jobs at risk.

The leader of Scarborough Borough Council, Councillor Derek Bastiman, said, “This is an extremely significant announcement from McCain, which cements the company’s commitment to Scarborough and the Yorkshire coast, and from which our area’s economy stands to benefit massively.”

Photo Caption: Artist’s impression of the new facility

Photo Credit: McCain Foods.

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Use of true potato seed gets EU boost

The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (Seeds and Propagation section) of the European Commission has approved a so-called ‘temporary experiment’ with derogatory rules on the marketing of True Potato Seed.

Potatoes are currently exclusively propagated by tubers, however, innovative technologies now allow propagation by seeds and this has a number of significant benefits, including speeding up the multiplication of varieties which are currently reliant on tuber production.

The new technology for the production of true seed relies on the crossing of uniform, inbred lines, allowing quicker introduction of one, or even several beneficial new traits as F1 hybrids, and the use of True Potato Seed for faster propagation; one potato plant can easily produce 1000 seeds.

The total value of seed potatoes produced in the EU is estimated at €1 billion per year. New technologies will potentially have a large impact on trade; a small bag of 30 grams of True Potato Seed corresponds to 2,500 kilograms of seed tubers, which are also prone to losing quality during long transport. Current legislation in the EU does not regulate the marketing of true seed of Solanum tuberosum. The temporary experiment, which will last seven years, will help in establishing the requirements for this material so that both producers and users can maximally benefit from this innovative technology.

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Accounts show potato suppliers profiting

According to reports, Scottish-based Bartlett International Holdings, which owns Albert Bartlett, saw its pre-tax profits for the year ending 31 May 2016 fall by a third to £5.513 million, down from £8.198 million the year before. However, turnover increased 3% in the same period.

In his director’s report, Mr Bartlett blamed the drop in profits on “competitive pricing pressure” and start up costs in relation to the launch of the company’s new frozen business. “Whilst the trading environment presents challenges, the group continues to develop and promote the Albert Bartlett brand and remains fully committed to the development and success of our exclusive premium varieties and our own label offering,” he said.

Elsewhere, Lincolnshire-based Manor Fresh, which supplies potatoes and other produce to M&S showed a slight increase in pre-tax profits for the year to 30 April 2016, up from £1.4 million to £1.6 million. Turnover during the period also increased, rising from £57.1 million to £60.3 million. The firm also reported that the sale of green vegetables was “particularly strong.”

Photo Caption: Potato grading at Manor Fresh.

Photo Credit: Manor Fresh.

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Preva Produce in administration

According to reports, Norfolk based potato supplier Preva Produce has been placed in administration.

The company is now up for sale with 20 job losses anticipated due to significant cash flow pressures and difficult trading conditions. Creditor interests have been safeguarded and the possibility of selling parts of the business is being explored, according to joint administrators Matt Howard and Stuart Morton, of accountancy firm Price Bailey.

Operations at the company’s 29,000 sq ft packhouse, in Snetterton were suspended in November, and a sale has been agreed subject to contract. “The management team are working with Price Bailey to review the company’s position and to formulate a strategy. Unfortunately, it has been necessary to make 20 redundancies, leaving 11 staff remaining,” said Mike Howard.

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Nationwide survey to understand soil pests of potato

A new nationwide survey of potato growers hopes to evaluate the wider implications of key soil pest issues, and assess whether growers are winning the battle against losses, or identify if problems are getting progressively worse.

It seeks to evaluate how growers perceive the effectiveness of current IPM measures in the field and the impacts that adopting new practices have on profitable potato production. Syngenta Potato Campaign Manager, Mark Britton, commented, “The recent AHDB-funded survey has given a good snapshot of PCN incidence, but it is crucial to now assess how growers view the control options available, and how that impacts on the complex interaction of all soil pests in practice.”

The questions have been designed to focus on the practical and financial implications for growers here and now, but would also have a valuable function in helping to shape future research and trials’ priorities to develop appropriate solutions. The survey, which should take less than ten minutes to complete, can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JN7X8BH until the end of January. All growers and agronomist that participate will have the chance to win a copy of a practical guide to diseases, pests and disorders of the potato, and the survey results will be available to all growers.

The post Nationwide survey to understand soil pests of potato appeared first on Hort News on 23 December 2016.

Sainsbury’s introduces anti-greening pack for potatoes

As part of its ‘Save Our Spuds’ campaign, Sainsbury’s has introduced new packaging which will prevent potatoes from going green and developing a bitter taste. Designed to be 100% opaque – whilst still breathable – the new packaging prevents any light from reaching the produce, the most common culprit for greening.

The green discolouration develops thanks to a build-up of solanine which is triggered by too much light. The retailer estimates that this is responsible for the wasting of 5.8 million potatoes every day.

Jane Skelton, Head of Packaging for Sainsbury’s, commented, “Potatoes are a British favourite. But exposure to sunlight means many of our spuds never make it to the table. That’s why we’re calling ‘lights out’ in our latest effort to help tackle food waste. We’re confident that this will improve the shelf-life of our potatoes and, while the packaging might be opaque, we’re hoping the results will be clear to see.”

The new packaging will be rolled out across Sainsbury’s stores, across King Edwards and Lady Balfour potatoes – two varieties which are most susceptible to greening. The retailer continues to recommend that all potatoes should be kept in a cool, dark place.

Photo Caption: Lady Balfour and King Edwards will be the first to benefit from the new packaging

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