Weekly Potato Report

Home Market Prices: (Ex-farm) Week beginning 25/08/03

Plus a minimum of €25/t for 10kg bags

Volume trade has improved slightly, although prices remain under some pressure particularly for Queens. While supply has become more orderly due to growers concentrating on finishing the grain harvest, offers are still exceeding demand in many cases. In general trade should start to improve from next week as we enter September when schools re-open following the Summer holidays. August is one of the driest months in year's and this is certain to take the edge of yields, with many crops stalling over the last number of weeks. Many growers are considering to burn - off early to hedge against secondary growth in the event of rain coming.