General Chat

Ring Rot? Isn't that.....oh, perhaps not!

I understand about safeguarding crops - many countries do so and I worked overseas in an industry that was part of safeguarding foodstuff from contamination - but what I don't understand is why the bacteria causing ring rot is confined to Poland, hence my reference to Chernobyl?

Just quickly googled it and discovered the bacteria has its second name deriving from an USA state (as do other fruit and cereal bacteria). .. Will now Google to see whether it's discovery was made in the USA or by an American scientist elsewhere.

Also, I am now interested enough to find out whether anyone is pursuing a remedy because it is already spreading.

It is to safe guard our own crops from a problem called Ring Rot which was found in Polish potato crops and can spread from crop to crop and as it sits in the soil for decades arable land cant be used so hence the ban.and rightly .all seed potatoes from Ireland and Scotland are very strict on testing and requirements to be grown here....

Strange one, that Rollo. Do you know why?

The only reason I can think of is the after-effects of Chernobyl on soil but is potato-growing more susceptible than other types of vegetables and fruit.

It's got me beat, as the vernacular goes - but I am, by nature, more curious than most. :-S

The Polish Potatoes Order 2004 makes it illegal for someone to "import into England potatoes which he knows to be or has reasonable cause to suspect to be Polish potatoes". An exception is made if you write to an inspector at least two days before you plan to bring your tubers over, giving details of:

The proposed time, date and means of introduction
The proposed point of entry into England
The intended use of the potatoes
The proposed destination of the potatoes
The variety of the potatoes
The quantity of potatoes
The producer's identification number

In 2012, the Food and Environment Research Agency reinforced the guideline, by demanding a ring rot test certificate accompany the spuds. This was triggered by a poor crop in the UK leading to importers searching for European replacements.

No such regulation applies to Irish, French or Egyptian potatoes.