Potatoes: 08/09/2015

Wholesale ex-farm potato prices reported to the IFA

Low High Average

Rooster box (new season) €4.00 €4.60 €4.30

Kerr’s Pink 10kg (new season) €5.00 €6.00 €5.50

Whites box (new season) €3.70 €4.20 €4.00

New season Queen 10kg €4.00 €5.00 €4.60

Comment: Demand remains strong for new season crop across all varieties. However, growers are giving precedence to the cereal harvest. New season maincrop has been on the market for a month at this stage and prices continue to remain robust. A lot of the first tranche of Roosters have been harvested in parts of Cork, Wexford and Louth, and these early growers are substantially ahead of last year in clearing crops. Farmers are reporting only average and variable yields, even though these crops went in on time and in ideal conditions. Due to the late season and slow bulking of crops, supply remains restricted – a surge in demand is likely as all retailers move on to 7.5kg packs.