Demand for Potatoes Remains Robust

Demand has remained robust over the past week for both old and new season produce.

There are more queens available this week however, this will only replace the reduction in the supply of Homeguard and Premier. More retailers have moved onto new season queens and, with larger pack sizes now on sale there is balanced supply in the market.

Many packers are using up their own supplies of old stock but will need further supplies of the 2016 crop in the coming weeks to finish out the season. The provisional estimates from the DAFM show a reduction in overall Irish plantings of 4.5%. These estimates tend to revise slightly higher when the final figure is calculated however, as a minimum, 2017 plantings will be less than the 2016 figure which gives some positive prospects for the year ahead.

Ex-Farm Potato Prices reported to IFA

Low High Average
Rooster Box €320 €360 €340
Rooster 10kg €3.50 €4.00 €3.75
Kerr’s Pinks 10kg €3.20 €3.60 €3.30
New Season Queens 10kg €9 €11 €10

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