Potato Review

14 POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2021 COOPERATIVE FOCUS weather Scotland experienced in October and November, Gemson crops were all lifted out of the ground in good time and stored appropriately. e cooperative believes there is now a saturated market in the baby potato and salad sector, as more and more new competing varieties have come along since the commercialisation of Gemson back in 2007. is demonstrates how the breeding of new varieties and investment in exclusive varieties will be the answer to overrunning competition and increasing market share, it says. Grampian Growers has become the sole marketing agent in the United Kingdom of the French salad variety ‘Iodea’ which has gained a lot of serious interest from the trade. Dual resistance from Pallida and Rostochiensis is the driving force behind this variety. WMF acquisition In August 2020, Grampian Growers nalised the acquisition of WM Fraser, a long- established Potato Merchant supplying more than 90 chip shops, wholesalers, and hospitality premises across Scotland. e business has now relocated to the GG site in Montrose under the new name WM Fraser Ltd, bringing with it four full time members of sta and a eet of three lorries. Each week more than 50 tonnes of English chipping potatoes are brought up to Montrose for distribution, including Maris Piper, Markies, Agria and Sagitta. is new acquisition suits Grampian Growers’ structure as its growers could potentially grow seed potatoes for the English ware growers. December brought tougher lockdown restrictions to Scotland and since then trade had been down roughly 50%, with some businesses taking the decision to close temporarily until restrictions are lifted, although takeaways have still been able to operate to an extent. “Hopefully, there is light at the end of the tunnel where our chip shops, wholesalers and more are concerned, so the hospitality sector can bounce back from this dark period. Spring and Summer are busy months for our customers, so we can only keep positive and look forward to these seasons,” we were told. New O ce Another positive development that 2020 brought to Grampian Growers was the beginning of a new o ce construction at its site in Montrose. Work started in September when a new entry road and car park were built. e old o ce was demolished, and the new site has been dug out. When nished, it will be more than double the size of the previous o ce. Temporary portacabins have been situated on site for sta and the new o ce is expected to be completed in June. e original o ce dated back to Grampian Growers’ formation in 1968. WM Fraser Ltd has relocated to the GG site, bringing with it a fleet of three lorries Nici Smith and Dave Ramsay at a Coldham variety trials day. Dual resistance from Pallida and Rostochiensis is the driving force behind the Iodea variety.