PSI Bulletin: August 2026
- 11 hours ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 11 minutes ago
No. 8/26 FINAL SUBSCRIBER EDITION
Welcome to the August edition of Synopsis, PSI's latest update of news, technical content and developments in potato storage.
This month we have some topical assistance in our Best Practice and Technical Insight sections to help with store loading and damage assessment.
This edition also includes some important news about changes to Synopsis for the future; this will be our final subscriber edition as we are moving to an open quarterly format going forward.
We've been out to all parts this past 6 weeks and crops look very variable with the best canopies seen in NE Scotland and Northern ireland. But, in the East Midlands and eastern England, despite the arrival of the first significant rainfall in some areas for 2½ months, storage looks like its heading for another challenging season on a number of fronts:
Yield - reports of significant deficiencies in yield are widespread with unirrigated areas, not surprisingly, hardest hit. So expect storage spaces to be difficult to manage particularly in relation to airflow where stores are not full.
Tuber size will be small overall and consequently baker contents will also be lower than normal.
Premature sprouting - early dormancy break is a common consequece of hot growing seasons and 2026 is unlikely to be much different. Get a good look at crops ahead of harvest to know what is coming into store. Be prepared to treat crops early with a contact action suppressant (eg mint oil or orange oil) to check any unwanted early sprout growth.
Tuber quality
Dry matter content is reported to be very high across the piece, so bruising susceptibility might be expected to be generally high although this will be partly mitigated by lower than average tuber size.
Mechanical damage levels will be high given the likely clod content of such dry soil.
Dry rot - the warm conditions that have prevailed for many weeks will have increased disease pressure for this opportunistic fungus. Any damage or breach of the tuber skin could invite infection that appears as characteristic 'thumb sized' sunken lesions with wrinkled tuber skin and, often, coloured or white mycelial growths.
Common scab - levels are reportedly high, even on better, irrigated land. Very varietal dependent normally but in severest conditions scab has been universally high.
PSI ACTIVITY
Adrian Cunnington attended a Tesco Low Carbon Event presented by Branston at Grant Farms, Langrick, near Boston on 28 July.
The day's discussions included a number of lower carbon solutions, including a Crop Systems SmartStor development first tested in 2024/25 by Branston supplier, David Armstrong of Bardney, Lincs:
courtesy of Crop Systems Ltd
Other activity this month has included a visit to the AKP Trials Day at Driffield; delivery of a SACAPP storage optimisation workshop at Lour Farms near Forfar, Angus and a visit to the annual James Hutton Institute Potatoes in Practice knowledge transfer event and trade exhibition at Balruddery Farm, Dundee (pictured below):
The greener field conditions in Scotland bode well for an easier and more productive harvest than will be the case in many other areas further south.
Adrian from PSI will be participating in the delivery of a potato store managers' course being organised by SAC Consulting in Perth on 19/20 January 2027. Contact Kyran Maloney for details.
PSI is available to provide training, guidance and advice on all aspects of potato storage; if you think we can help you, call Adrian Cunnington on 07970 072260 or email adrian@potatostorageinsight.com.
BEST PRACTICE
It's a good time of year to be gearing up as a store manager for the new season just round the corner. Here's a checklist of kit you could need:
Good, rechargeable torch
Phone with camera & backup torch (rechargeable torches often give little notice of failing)
Insulated, hi-visibility coat
Overalls & gloves
Safety boots or shoes
Bump cap
Earplugs or ear defenders
Folding knife with retention cord
Good quality hand-held thermometer with probe
Lapel-worn carbon dioxide safety meter
Notebook or small clipboard with pen/marker
Sample bags/nets
Lone working alert system (phone signals in stores are notoriously poor)
Thermal image accessory for your phone camera
Labels and stapler
Sprayfoam can for repairing holes in walls or ducts.
TECHNICAL INSIGHT
Store loading & damage assessment
Loading a potato store should be an activity that is planned well in advance of harvest. It is important to match crops, in terms of their quality, likely storage periods and market expectations, to the storage available so management is effective and returns are maximised. Crops should be lifted as free as possible from damage, soil, stones and haulm. Within an hour or two of entering store, the crop should be ventilated to remove surface moisture from tubers and from any remaining soil.
If positive ventilation is available, as in bulk stores or lateral suction (Aspire) or letterbox pallet stores, ventilation will prevent condensation forming on tubers in crops lifted in dry conditions. The airflow removes warm air produced by the rapidly respiring crop and will reduce the likelihood of the warm air condensing on the cooler potatoes above. Try to load stores within a week and absolute maximum of 14 days, especially if there is going to be a lot of field heat to remove. This ensures potatoes can be brought under optimal control and reduces the need to compromise on store management and, ultimately, crop quality.
Field sampling will identify rots, blemish disease, tuber defects or cutworm/slug damage, while warm storage (>20°C) of samples before harvest can identify potential rotting prior to loading. Crops with rots, or loads which have been rained on, should be kept out of the main store to prevent contamination. Crops with 1–2% rots should be set aside, ideally in boxes, and positively ventilated continuously for 4–6 weeks until any rots are mummified.
During store loading, the temperature of the crop already in store should, ideally, track the daytime average temperature of the crop in the ground, usually between 20°C down to 10°C, over the harvesting period. The store should be ventilated whenever the outside air is within ±4°C of the crop temperature to ensure all surface moisture is removed and condensation is not caused. If dew-point temperature sensing is available, it can be used instead of temperature to prevent condensation when ventilating with air warmer than the crop. Crops should be quickly blown dry to prevent disease development, which will be encouraged by the relatively warm temperatures during this period, if crops are respiring heavily.
Damage prevention at harvest will be a challenge this year after such a lengthy dry period. Of course, mechanical damage when loading should be kept to an absolute minimum. Rots and blemish diseases invade through wounds and broken skin, while bruising risk is highest in dry years and is a primary cause of rejection from premium markets. Testing for damage should be routine so increased damage can be quickly identified. Standard methods of damage assessment are available; use 25-tuber samples and categorise damage into slight and severe and measure the proportions ideally by weight but tuber number will also work (less accurately).
Hot-boxing samples overnight will help to show any bruising. Take 25-tuber samples from known locations to identify any sources of bruising. Again, classify tubers by peeling and identifying slight (1 or 2 peels) or severe (over 2 peels) bruising percentage.
Get into a routine of repeated sampling so that you can monitor any changes resulting from a change of field, variety or machine operator. All of these factors have a potentially huge bearing onthe crop going into store and it's too late to find out you've bruised the crop when it comes to trying to deliver a crop after storage.
Use an automated swinging-head elevator for systematic loading of bulk stores as it avoids the formation of soil ‘cones’. Also, while most automatic box fillers are designed to minimise drops into boxes, pay attention to detail with conveyors and screens as these are often a source of bruising during loading.
NEWS: AKP GROUP ACQUIRED BY MYTON
The Myton Food Group has announced that it has acquired AKP Group. Here is the full press release:
Myton Food Group has completed the acquisition of AKP Group (Arundel Kerr Produce Ltd, and its subsidiaries Wolds Produce and The Humble Potato Co), the UK's leading potato specialists. The acquisition sees AKP become part of Myton Food Group's vertically integrated manufacturing and sourcing network, further strengthening the Group's capabilities across potatoes and fresh produce.
AKP Group brings more than 25 years of farming and category expertise, operating an end-to-end potato supply chain supported by a longstanding network of British growers. The business is widely recognised for its quality, consistency and reliability across the potato sector, serving customers across seed, retail, food manufacturing and wholesale markets.
By joining Myton Food Group, AKP's operations, facilities and grower relationships will further enhance the Group's ability to deliver high-quality, British-grown potatoes and fresh produce to customers throughout the UK. The acquisition represents a significant step in strengthening Myton's supply chain capabilities while expanding its access to specialist category expertise and grower partnerships. The acquisition supports Myton's long-term strategy of building a resilient, vertically integrated supply chain, underpinned by quality, value, innovation and sustainability. It also reinforces the Group's commitment to British agriculture through continued investment in local sourcing, grower collaboration, product traceability and supply chain security.
Following completion of the transaction, Myton Food Group and AKP Group will work closely together to bring together their complementary expertise, operations and supply chain capabilities. Through a carefully managed integration process, the combined business will create a stronger platform for future growth across fresh produce and prepared foods, while continuing to deliver exceptional service and value to customers.
Andrew Thornber, Managing Director – Produce, Myton Food Group, said: "Bringing AKP Group into Myton Food Group is a natural next step for our business. Their farming heritage, category expertise and end-to-end supply capability align perfectly with our commitment to sourcing the very best of British produce and building long-term partnerships with growers. This acquisition strengthens our potato and fresh produce offering, enhances our supply chain resilience and creates new opportunities for growth, innovation and value creation for our customers."
Richard Arundel, Managing Director, AKP Group, added: "AKP Group has grown from a family farming business into one of the UK's leading potato specialists, and we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past 25 years. Joining Myton Food Group is the right step for the future of our business, our employees, our growers and our customers. We share the same commitment to British agriculture, quality produce and long-term partnerships, making this a natural fit for both organisations.
Importantly, this acquisition strengthens our business and simplifies our corporate structure without changing the values and customer focus that have been central to AKP's success. Our existing customers can be assured that we remain fully committed to supporting them with the same high standards of service, quality and reliability they have always received. Being part of Myton Food Group provides additional scale, expertise and investment that will enhance our capabilities, strengthen our supply chain and create new opportunities for growth, while allowing us to continue championing our grower network and delivering long-term value to customers. This is about building on the strong foundations of AKP Group and ensuring an even stronger future for everyone connected to the business."
The integration of AKP Group and Myton Food Group will take place over the coming months, supported by both businesses senior team, all of whom are staying within the business in their current capacities, and are equally excited for the future. Operational continuity and customer service will remain a key priority throughout the process. Looking ahead, the enlarged group will continue to explore opportunities to innovate and expand across potato, fresh produce and value-added categories, further strengthening its position as a leading partner to customers across the UK food industry.
■ Myton Food Group is a major UK food manufacturing and processing business that originated as the in-house manufacturing arm of the supermarket chain Morrisons. It now operates 19 sites across the country supplying fresh meat, fish, produce (including potatoes), baked goods and cut flowers.
IMPORTANT CHANGES COMING TO SYNOPSIS
After close to five years of monthly bulletins, the time has come to make some changes to Synopsis.
From the end of September, Synopsis will become a quarterly newsletter published on the PSI website free of charge (and without any monetisation barriers) and sent by email to those who opt to receive it.
Why is this happening? From January 2027, Adrian will be reducing his working time from four days a week (as it has been since PSI was established in 2021) to three. The reduction in commitment to the monthly bulletin is a logical step that follows this change.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the bulletin and hope you will find it useful to still have access to storage information without subscription, albeit on a slightly less regular basis, going forward.
Full details will follow in our Synopsis September Quarterly.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
If you are hosting a potato or agricultural industry event, please send details to admin@potatostorageinsight.com. Key dates for your diary with relevance to the potato sector in the coming months in UK and Europe include:
August
Wed 26 - Thu 27 UK Breeders Variety Days 2026 – British Potato Trade Association,
Caythorpe Farms, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 3EZ.
September
Wed 9 - Thu 10 Potato Europe 2026 field demonstration held near Hannover, Germany
November
Wed 18- Thu 19 British Potato Confex at Lincolnshire Showground, including trade fair and seminars.
Sun 29-Tue 1 Dec Interpom. Kortrijk Expo, Belgium.
December
Tue 15 - Wed 16 CUPGRA Conference. Cambridge.
2027
Wed 19 May SDF/PSI Potato Storage Day 2027 - save the date!
Sun 6 -Thu 10 Jun European Assoc for Potato Research Triennial Conference in Edinburgh - now booking at https://www.eapr.net/conferences
As outlined above, Synopsis is changing to a quarterly format from September 2026. Look out for your new Synopsis on our website at www.potatostorageinsight.com or a link arriving in your inbox on 30 September. To add your name to our mailout list, please send an email to adrian@potatostorageinsight.com and put BULLETIN REQUEST in the email title.
Synopsis is written by Adrian Cunnington and published by Potato Storage Insight Ltd., 45 Main St., Gedney Dyke, Spalding, PE12 0AJ. UK.
© Potato Storage Insight Ltd. 2026
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