Alex Godfrey

NFU Potato Forum chairman Alex Godfrey

The NFU has written to processors and packers to call for transparency after potato growers reported severe payment deductions with little or no explanation.

With some growers experiencing penalties of up to 30 per cent, the NFU is asking for full, itemised breakdowns of deductions to be made available within 48 hours.

NFU Potato Forum chairman Alex Godfrey said the current situation could cause long-term harm to the sector, stressing that growers need more information and to better understand the issues that result in deductions. This will allow them to make changes and minimise penalty costs.

“We exposed this issue in the NFU’s Catalyst for Change report,” said Godrey. “It is not good enough to expect growers to simply accept levels of deductions like this without reasonable explanation.

“Farmers are telling us that this situation is getting worse, not better. They are becoming more and more frustrated at the scale of the problem, with some processors and packers offering little or no supporting data to explain the reduction in payment.

“Growers then often wait weeks before being told of the deductions. This can’t continue. Growers must be given clarity and transparency if they are expected to improve efficiencies and production on farm.”

Potatoes that do not meet retail specifications can often be used for a secondary purpose, but the grower is not necessarily rewarded for this. Growers have expressed concern that they are not paid for potatoes ending up in added value processed or prepared food.

Godfrey said: “Packing businesses have diversified to enable them to use more of the crop and produce products such as chilled mash or wedges. There needs to be recognition of the value of the crop used for this purpose and a reasonable reward for the growers.”

The NFU is calling on growers to make it a regular part of the season to visit the packing site and follow the process in order to deliver greater transparency and trust between supplier and customer.