Seed potato growers urged to join new organisation

Aberdeenshire grower Mike Wilson explained: “After AHDB, we realised we need an organisation run by seed growers for the benefit of seed growers, to provide directly relevant, value for money activities.”

The growers behind the new Seed Potato Organisation (SPO) have put together a prospectus with all the details and want to speak to other seed growers this summer.

“We’ve a good idea of how we want this organisation to run and what we want it to do. We need find out if other growers agree, and if they’re keen to sign up” said Peter Shiells, a grower from the Borders.

SPO has set up a website at https://seed-potato-organisation.mailchimpsites.com/ with details of the growers on the steering committee, an overview of the organisation, and a prospectus.

To find out what growers think, the organisers have put together a survey, and Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) has agreed to distribute it to all registered seed potato growers.

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Black Isle grower, Calum McIver, wants as many growers as possible to complete it. “We need folk to fill out this survey. We need to find out how many people are likely to join, and what their priorities are. We don’t want to go full steam ahead and set up a new organisation without listening to the growers first.”

A grower meeting has been planned for July 5 at the Red House Hotel in Coupar Angus at 6:30pm, and on July 6 at the Woodside Farm Shop near Kinloss at 6:30pm. There will also be a wider industry meeting in the seminar tent at Potatoes in Practice on August 11 at 10:00am.

Growers can register an interest in SPO through the survey, at these meetings, or on the SPO website.

Jim Cargill, a grower from Aberdeenshire, wants other growers to get involved. “Now is the time for seed potato growers to set the agenda: join SPO and help it shape the development of the seed potato sector.”