Potato News from United Kingdom

The 2025 Hutchinsons Potato Trials Results Day at Worth Farms, Lincolnshire, showcased key field trials and research to help tackle major potato industry challenges, including PCN, herbicide safety, wireworm, catch crops, blight, and Alternaria.

Fera Science’s Enigma I project is advancing to its second phase, focusing on sustainable wireworm control. Agri-food organizations are invited to join as co-funding partners for tailored research and practical solutions.

Heat and Control®, a world-leading manufacturer of food industry equipment, has announced the acquisition of Tek-Dry Systems Ltd. and Hunt Heat Exchangers, two leading providers of thermal processing and heat transfer equipment.

Biofresh Safestore will celebrate its 21st anniversary at Strategic Potato Storage Day on May 21st, offering a 10% installation discount. The event will highlight potato sprout control technology and recent advancements in energy management.

Burgess Farms' new Haith potato wash line, installed in October, has boosted throughput, optical sorting, and efficiency at Sutton Bridge. The investment enhances quality, flexibility, and sustainability, supporting the farm’s growth.

Emerald Research Ltd (ERL) and a leading potato grower in South West England have won an eighteen-month Innovate UK project to tackle the ever-growing problem of wireworm damage in potatoes.

The Fresh Potato Suppliers Association (FPSA) was established in 2009 to represent the fresh sector of the potato industry bringing together fresh packers and suppliers to retail.

Greenvale’s Golden Kings launched ‘Move Over Maris’ with Great British Chefs to promote climate-friendly, high-yielding potatoes needing less irrigation and pest control, urging consumers to switch varieties.

Known for its effectiveness in managing potato dormancy, 1,4SIGHT® provides growers with a proven solution to maintain the quality of their stored potatoes.

Subway® is trialling a new range of freshly made, hot, fluffy, jacket potatoes in select restaurants across the UK. Over the past few years, the jacket potato, a warm and comforting classic, has undergone a renaissance and recently found fame on social media

After more than three decades of service to the potato supply industry, Richard Clark, commercial director at leading potato supplier Branston, has announced his retirement.

Scotts Precision Manufacturing has announced that it has formed a new partnership with Agropack Solutions to strengthen its presence in Scotland. Agropack Solutions will serve as the official dealer for Scotts' industry-leading Evolution Separator.

Lamb Weston launches Frenzy Fries, a unique 3-sided, skin-on fry designed to enhance sensory dining experiences and help UK foodservice operators stand out. With a 20-minute hold time and extra crispy texture, they offer innovation, quality, and reduced waste.

Spudmania shows no signs of abating and singing stars and crowds in the Spudarmy continue to flock to the centre of Tamworth to sample Ben Newman's humble jacket potatoes.

IFCG-Egypt has announced its participation as an exhibitor at the IFE Food Event in London 2025, a premier gathering for the global food and beverage industry. As a key player in the frozen food sector, IFCG-Egypt is proud to showcase its premium-quality frozen sweet potato fries, crafted to meet the highest international standards

The dwindling availability of insecticide seed treatment and nematicides has paved the way for pest control using entomopathogenic nematodes.

North Yorkshire potato grower Tim Rooke has been re-elected chair of the NFU Potato Forum. Tim, who farms 240 hectares of potatoes, also grows crops on 400 hectares of his farm.

They’re one of the UK’s most loved staples, providing around half of our carbohydrate intake as a nation and supporting over 20,000 farm, transport and manufacturing jobs.