Potatoes: 22/12/2020

Ex-farm potato prices reported to the IFA

Low High Average

Rooster box €320 €380 €350

Rooster 10 kg €3.30 €3.80 €3.50

Whites Box €300 €350 €320

Kerr’s Pinks €4.50 €5.00 €4.80

Golden Wonder €4.80 €5.50 €5.20

Comment

The food service sector has taken another hit, as restaurants will be forced to shut sooner than expected due to lockdown measures. Retail demand remains positive, as consumers continue to stock up for the festive period. There is good demand for quality Golden Wonder and Kerr’s Pinks, reflected in the market price. Brexit talks continue as the deadline is only days away.

Exports from the UK have been hindered, as trucks are backed up due to restrictions imposed after a new strain of the virus was detected in the country. Last week, export markets for frying and packing material had been extremely busy ahead of a no-deal Brexit scenario.

In Europe, the Northwestern European Potato Growers group (NPEG) is encouraging growers to reduce plantings by 15% to 20% next year to take account of the reduced requirement for processing. Free-buy prices are currently very weak and they are not being helped by the need to clear stores because of signs of sprouting.