East Midlands Potato Day
Potato Council’s East Midlands Potato Day takes place at QV Foods, Holbeach Hurn, near Spalding, 04 July, 2013, where supply chain experts will provide a unique insight into topical themes of importance to local potato businesses.
Potato Council technical executive, Gary Collins
Potato Council technical executive, Gary Collins who is organising the event says, “The East Midlands is an extremely important region for potatoes, with over 16 per cent of the GB grower base planting in excess of 16,500 hectares last year.”
“A start has been made to the 2013 early harvest in the area and the event has been specifically designed to examine topics of interest to local growers. We have an action packed day planned and I’m delighted to announce that the government’s newly appointed independent Groceries Code Adjudicator, Christine Tacon, will kick off the morning proceedings.”
Christine, having worked in both farming and retailer sides of the supply chain, as well as for major food multinationals, is now tasked with enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, which regulates interactions between our ten largest supermarkets and their suppliers.
“I’m looking forward to hearing from Christine how the new code of practice will benefit the potato industry,” adds Gary. ”Christine will update East Midlands producers on what she can and can’t do and will put a call out to potato suppliers to tell her about any breaches of the Code they face.”
Following on, highly-regarded commentator on the retail market, Edward Garner, communications director at Kantar Worldpanel, will provide consumer knowledge and insight into grocery retail trends and shopper behaviour, specifically regarding fresh and processed markets.
Attendees will have plenty of opportunity for discussion and networking over an informal lunch before the practical and interactive afternoon field sessions commence where John Keer of Richard Austin Agriculture will demonstrate Potato Council funded on site herbicide trials; Barrie Florendine, chair of the new Nematode Management Initiative (NMI), will discuss Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) stewardship and Brian Chambers of ADAS, will focus on soil nutrition; and Potato Council’s Adrian Cunnington, head of Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, will review the 2012 storage season, discuss CIPC stewardship and provide analysis of exceedances.
Please register for this event online at: www.potato.org.uk/events/east-midlands-potato-day-2013
