Scottish seed potatoes are considered as some of the best in the world. The industry here is highly specialised and at the forefront of innovation.

The cool, temperate climate, long summer day length and light sandy soils on the Moray coast mean low disease pressure and aphid activity.

OPG work together with many of the best farmers in the Scottish Highlands. Together we manage the crop rotations aiming for at least 10-year intervals between successive potato crops. In addition to low aphid levels, this synergy creates a safe haven from pathogens and diseases that affect other European seed regions.

Maris Peer is the most popular salad potato variety in the UK. The variety grows well in the Scottish Highlands with its white flesh and light, fresh flavour. We pack and supply Maris Peer nationally from early July through to late Autumn in both pre-pack and bulk aiming for the field to store in just 48 hours.

At OPG we adopt an integrated approach to growing and packing salad potatoes. It all starts with the seed. We select the most suitable stocks from OPG’s 4-5 year seed propagation system. This ensures that the salad crop gets off to the best possible start.

We work closely with our sister company Nessgro Ltd, using state of the art hydro-cooling and sorting technology. This optimises packhouse process time and guarantees freshness on every plate.

The humble potato has been a staple part of the British diet for many centuries. As organic potatoes are grown without artificial fertilisers and pesticides, they’re often perceived to be more simplistic; However organic potato production is arguably more complex, as farmers are required to take a holistic view of their farm management and come up with long-term solutions in order to sustainably produce successful crops.

This is achieved through long-crop rotations and investment in high-tech plant and equipment.  For example infrared guided weeding machines designed specifically for organic applications have proven at OPG, to be very effective also in conventional crops.

Variety selection is also a key component for successful production and storage. Together with our customers, we select the varieties that are best suited to our soils, our weather and organic conditions. We currently grow Lady Balfour & Valor organic table potatoes.