Comment: The potato market remains stable this week as schools return. With no let-up in wet weather, the lifting of crops continues to be affected, limiting the supply of new-season maincrop on to the market. Old-season stocks are diminishing, with strong demand for good-quality stock. The Queens market remains buoyant, as lifting finishes in parts of the country.

In the UK, harvesting conditions are mixed. Many growers have been stopped with heavy rain, with some areas still remaining dry. The cooler weather has also affected coastal trade slightly, which is where the bulk of demand is coming from. The second provisional planted area estimate for the total British potato area for 2020/21 came in at 119Kha

Heavy thunderstorms have been widespread over mainland Europe this week, although a minority of areas remain relatively dry. Test digs continue to confirm yields as average, but with a high amount of tubers sized 50mm and above. Dry matters are also high.