Potato Prices Reported This Week

Many growers have unloaded ambient stock over the past week as they clear the decks in readiness for the planting season ahead. As a consequence, many buyers are now turning their attention to stocks in cold store with increased enquiries from the north in particular where supplies of rooster appear to be very low.

The recent fine spell has resulted in more of the early crop being planted particularly on the lighter soils. Growers planting earlies in more inland and later areas need to remember last year’s market as there were poor prices for these plantings and a general oversupply in the premiere and queen varieties. Plantings have increased in the potato growing areas of southern Europe which will have a negative effect on the early market here also.

Ex-Farm Potato Prices reported to IFA