The area of potatoes planted in Europe’s key producing countries this season has increased by 0.5% to around 621,148ha.

The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG), which represents growers from the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany, says that the increase in area comes despite a significant disruption to the European potato market as a result of COVID-19.

According to the NEPG, this area of potatoes is considered to be too high given the market circumstances. However, it did recognise that the disruption caused by COVID-19 came too late for growers to adjust their area.

The majority of the increased area took place in Germany and France. However, the dry conditions at the start of the crop cycle may have affected the yield potential.