Potatoes: 07/11/2017

Ex-farm potato prices reported to the IFA

Comment: A lot of progress has been made on the potato harvest over the past week. Most growers are now well advanced in all regions, with some delays due to the back-up in the planting of winter cereal crops. The increase in the volumes of potatoes on the market may lead to some pressure. However, growers have to be reminded that the Irish acreage is similar to 2016. Retail prices have also held steady, so there is no excuse for merchants trying to profiteer on the backs of growers. Over in the UK, the harvest is well advanced and once these growers are finished selling stock which is excess to store, we should see a more stable market