News

NI potato promotion campaign

Updated 22/04/2015

The UFU is one of the driving forces behind the NI Potato Promotion Campaign. Putting potatoes back on the plates of consumers is the key objective of the NI Stakeholder Potato Promotion Group with industry representatives working together to develop and implement a high profile campaign to stimulate demand for potatoes and highlight their health benefits, convenience and versatility.

There is an urgent need to address the challenges being faced by potato producers. Already there are ambitiously industry funded potato promotion campaigns underway in GB and the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland’s potato industry is in danger of being left behind. With potato consumption down and farmers producing at a loss after having just come through a very difficult year, a potato promotion and marketing campaign is urgently needed to increase the consumption of potatoes and generate a return that will cover the cost of producing them. 

The promotional scheme will be funded primarily by voluntary industry contributions and will run for three years (2015, 2016, and 2017). Already the NI Agriculture Minister has voiced her support for the initiative and if industry support is strong the hope is financial government support will follow.

More infomation about the campaign