Weekly Potato Report

Week beginning 16/08/04

Home Market Prices: (Ex-farm)

Prices quoted above are direct to packer/merchants in bags (10kgs) or boxes.

Demand has once again been poor this week. This is in line with normal August trade. Supply levels exceed market requirements and this is maintaining pressure on prices.

Growers' panic selling is also adding to price pressure. 10kg Queen special in Dunnes Stores last week and current Tesco 10 kg Queen special this week is helping to stimulate retail demand for British Queen. Current growing conditions are very favourable with recent rain helping to bulk up crops.

Availability of Rooster and Kerrs Pink is increasing and these crops are ahead of last season.

No further cases of Ring Rot have been reported in Britain. DERA press release (11.08.04) states that the two stocks of seed used to grow the potatoes in which the Ring Rot was discovered orginated in Holland.

All affected potatoes from the packing firm in Cambridgeshire where the disease was identified have been disposed of. IFA is meeting with the Department of Agriculture to discuss the issue.

Harvest conditions have deteriorated particularly in Scotland where over 100mm of rain has fallen in some regions. There has also been heavy rainfall in parts of England and Wales with many areas receiving well over 50mm of rain in 24 hours. Elsewhere, the harvest has been difficult but enough progress has been made to maintain supplies.