Potatoes: 16/01/2018

Ex-farm potato prices reported to the IFA

Comment: Demand for potatoes continues to remain positive, with the sub-zero temperatures this week certainly driving sales. Farmgate prices are under some pressure in the wholesale market. However, producers need to realise that further price reductions from current levels will not increase sales. As in any year, farmers need to remain patient and understand that due to the combination of high tare levels and the 5% of crop which is of yet unharvested, the overall saleable yield of potatoes will be similar to last year. On the issue of reclaiming tare, growers need to push on this issue in order to remove it from the processing sector. In the UK, sales have been sluggish since Christmas. However, premium product across all lines is in demand, which is reflected in the higher prices.