Caley Winter Lecture – John Marshall & Andrew Skea

Heritage Potatoes

John Marshall will track the early usage of the potato in south America, its arrival in Europe and then becoming established as a major food source of the rapidly growing population. Our overdependence on the crop, then famine and the upsurge in breeding of new varieties. He will discuss the “Great Potato Boom” and then rationalisation by the “Synonyms” committee. Is it nostalgia or a marketing term –  what exactly are “Heritage Varieties”?

Andrew Skea will give an informative resume of the practicalities of growing and marketing both heritage and new seed varieties to meet the ever changing demand from gardeners and specialist growers on the family farm at Auchterhouse just North of Dundee. The family-run business, known simply as “Potato House”, promotes much of its business on social media. How Brexit and climate change are affecting the shift in variety demand, perhaps away from our heritage interests.

John Marshall has had lifetime of experiences across the potato industry including extensive travel to fields around the world culminating with 15 years with WCF Horticulture buying over 100 different varieties which were packed near Perth and distributed to gardeners through all the major retail outlets. In retirement, 3 years assisting Morrice Innes with his private collection achieve three consecutive gold medals at Chelsea Flower Show.  More recently he travelled to Machu Picchu experiencing two days with “The Custodians” of native potatoes in Peru.

Andrew Skea is managing director of his potato business, Potato House, north of Dundee. Working with his brother John, they produce over 100 different varieties. Andrew has been a “mover” in bringing his niche market to the forefront of the potato industry through participation on a number of industry committees. He has been influential in listing many of the “heritage” varieties on the “Ark of Taste” and more recently presented a paper at last year’s World Potato Congress in Dublin ( 2022).

Our talks are held in the Lecture Theatre at RBGE.   We do still intend to put recordings of the talks on our website for members who cannot attend in person. All talks will begin at 7.30pm. Our talks are free and are open to non-members.  All we ask is that you make a small donation at the door or perhaps buy a raffle ticket if you can.  For those who have not attended a lecture at RBGE before, entry is via the main reception: 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR (just down from the East Gate).

We will be live-streaming this talk.  If you prefer to watch online please register on our Eventbrite page in order to be send the joining link on the day of the talk.