Potato sales and consumption remain largely unchanged this week. It is reported across the country that crops are more advanced this year and many will be ready for desiccation before the end of the month. Desiccation options are limited due to a lack of chemistry available. Crops appear to have good numbers under them but it is too early to tell. There has also been a good few reports of cracking issues, possibly because of drought conditions earlier in the year.
Across Europe, regular showers and cooler temperatures have eased concerns about the effects of drought. On the physical market, uptake of new crop is increasing but there are still factories that have contracted old crop Markies and Fontane to run into August. Although seed crops have fared well in Scotland, there are some in the South which have been affected by drought and will suffer loss of yield. In the U.K. Movement of best quality old crop remains positive and particularly Whites. First new crop Marfona are in the markets this week.
