Potato Review

12 POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2021 COOPERATIVE FOCUS G RAMPIAN Growers, the farmer- owned cooperative based on the outskirts of Montrose, Angus, has reached a milestone within its GPS Potato Breeding Programme, having put ve new varieties into national listing in December. It is just one of three achievements for the group within the past year, which has also seen it acquire a long-standing merchant and undergo a major o ce rebuild. e ve new varieties have been in the GPS breeding programme since 2012 and match the criteria that the group set out to achieve, covering the main potato markets with crisping, table, baker, and salad varieties. Many of these varieties have pallida resistance with some having dual PCN resistance. A good year for Grampian A major milestone, noteable acquisition and a rebuild to accommodate its growing sta made a Scottish cooperative one of the few 2020/21 success stories. Stephanie Cornwall reports. “ is is an extremely exciting time for the partnership of Grampian Growers, E Park & Sons and Skea Organics where a 40/40/20 partnership share is in place, respectively,” a spokesman for the cooperative stated. For 2021 planting of GPS material, there will be fewer than 13 varieties left in the programme once selections have been made by the partners in February. Extensive trials will be held throughout the UK this year on these varieties, including the variety day at Coldham on September 8th and 9th and the Whole Crop Marketing day on July 28th. During the past year, despite the drawbacks presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, GPS managed to send in a handful of GPS crisping and chipping varieties to various UK factories