The popular school education programme, Grow Your Own Potatoes (GYOP), is set to continue thanks to Andrew Skea, the managing director at seed retailer, the Potato House.

His aim is to ensure the scheme continues to benefit across the different sectors of the potato industry by cultivating the consumer of the future. Andrew said: “Growers, packers and processors have emphasised the importance of Grow Your Own Potatoes to the future of our industry.”

Since the project was launched in 2004, it has reached more than 6m primary school children with positive messages about potatoes, many of whom will now be responsible for shopping for their own children. At its peak, GYOP was present in around three-quarters of all primary schools across Great Britain.

Andrew is now looking for industry members to help him drive the project forward – this may be through funding, or supplying seed potatoes for the schools to grow, to growers visiting schools to talk about food and farming, and the benefits of including potatoes in a healthy, balanced diet.

“Now more than ever GYOP needs industry's help to work together to keep this essential programme running,” he said.

Sue Lawton, the project manager for the programme, added: “Grow Your Own Potatoes has delivered consistently positive results in educating the next generation of consumers. Investing in the consumers of tomorrow will help future-proof the potato industry.

“We have an ideal opportunity to put potatoes front and centre. With more consumers turning to plant-based diets, we need to work together to remind children and their parents, that potatoes are a versatile, low-cost source of nutrition,” she pointed out.

To get involved with GYOP and join together to support the future demand for potatoes, contact Sue for more information on sue@potatohouse.co.uk