Potato Market Update 2nd April

There has been little change in the domestic potato market, with all the main retailers reporting good sales over the past week. However, in the wholesale and peeling markets prices have come under a little pressure.

This is mainly due to some growers anxious to move material from ambient stores and there is some competition from imports in the peeling market. Growers are advised to move any suitable material to the peeling market to prevent excessive imports. With planting progressing very well in the UK, and earlier planted crops now fully emerged, we could see an early season in the UK which would impact the use of old stock in the peeling/processing market later on in the season. Last week’s good weather has seen a return to planting with growers now making good headway on the planting of maincrop. As always, farmers need to be aware of their potential markets and, with the prediction of increased production across the UK and the EU next season, caution regarding increasing cropping area needs to be exercised.