A potato grower from Northern Ireland has issued a “call to arms” to his fellow growers to back a marketing campaign designed to increase consumption amongst consumers.
“Potatoes are losing ground dramatically to rice and other forms of starch, such as pasta,” Dessie Patterson told the local farming press. “The industry has no other choice but to fight back, using its own financial resources.”
It is planned that the new scheme, which will be backed by a levy of £ per acre per year on growers, as well as packers and processors in the region will be match funded by Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture. It is envisaged that the new marketing campaign will be launched later in the autumn. March is the deadline that has been set to secure all relevant funding.
“I am aware that growers are under significant financial pressure at the present time,” added Mr Patterson. “However, the levy, in my opinion, is a cost well worth incurring given the benefits which the industry as a whole will accrue from the planned marketing campaign.”
