News

GB Potatoes member Tim Rooke farms in partnership with his brother and son in North Yorkshire. They grow around 600 acres of processing potatoes for the chipping and crisping markets, including King Russet, Pentland Dell, Lady Rosetta, Brooke and Taurus. He is Chair of the NFU Potato Policy Group and Vice Chair of the NFU…

Good crop establishment in the spring and irrigation means the GB potato crop largely weathered the summer drought, although storage challenges remain, writes Cedric Porter from World Potato Markets.

Drought Conditions Could Continue into 2026 Despite Recent Rainfall Despite some much-needed rain this autumn, large parts of England remain in drought as we head into winter.  While the rain received over the last couple of months is very much welcome the National Drought Group (NDG) has warned that unless we see sustained and above-average…

GB Potatoes, in association with the British Potato Trade Association (BPTA), has launched a new initiative to support the skills and knowledge development of future growers, leaders and industry experts. Supporting individuals from seed production to the end of the supply chain, the Potato Industry Development Programme is designed for new entrants to gain a…

In April 2025, former NFU President, Baroness Minette Batters, was appointed by Defra Secretary Steve Reed to lead a six-month review into farming profitability in England.  The aim of the review is to find practical solutions to improve margins across all farming sectors and forms a key part of Defra’s wider Farming Roadmap, which is…

I have spent my life working in farming, particularly in the potato sector, and over the past 40-plus years I have been incredibly fortunate to walk away from most incidents with only minor injuries, unlike many of you reading this. But a recent experience has been a real eye-opener, reminding me just how vital good…

Alex Godfrey – Chair, GB Potatoes GB Potatoes became an associate member of Europatat – the European Potato Trade Association – last year, so its 2025 Congress, which has taken place this week in Lille, has provided the first chance to see at close quarters the work carried out, and a good opportunity to meet…

GB Potatoes is pleased to announce that we have joined Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd (HCP) on behalf of the British seed potato industry.  This important step has been made possible through the grant we secured from AHDB, using the remaining Potato Levy funds. HCP was created by the UK horticultural sector to take on the…