Despite the warmer weather, demand remains relatively strong for the time of year. Almost half of the new season crop from glasshouses and polytunnels are now cleared, with both demand and farm gate prices remaining very positive.
We continue to see the farm gate price of old season crop inch upwards, particularly at the lower end of the market. Increases of €20 – €30 per tonne have been reported in both the wholesale and peeling markets.
The returns for this product should increase significantly in the coming weeks as growers try to cover the financial cost of potatoes kept in cold store since last November.
Recent provisional figures have reported potato area as being back significantly. However, it should also have come with the caveat that the initial potato figures are always revised upwards in the final BPS figures and therefore this figure is misleading. Any growers tempted to add a few extra acres should be reminded of the availability of a market, current excellent growing conditions and the increase of potato area across northern Europe.
Ex-Farm Potato Prices reported to IFA
Low | High | Average | |
Rooster Box | €240 | €300 | €260 |
Rooster 10kg | €2.40 | €3.00 | €2.60 |
Whites | €180 | €230 | €210 |
Kerr Pink 10kg | €3.20 | €3.70 | €3.50 |
Golden Wonder10kg | €4.50 | €5.50 | €5.00 |