Potato growers are in a better position than most food producers on Brexit, according to David Eudall, head of arable market specialists at AHDB.

The market expert said that the trade deal with Egypt for seed potatoes and a strong home market meant that potato growers were less exposed to any potential damage caused by the UK leaving the EU, compared with sectors like lamb.

Looking towards harvest 2019, Eudall said: “We have had a better growing season with more rainfall in Great Britain (GB). But we still have some question marks on yield, and quality is yet to be determined.”

The industry expert said that consumers were not put off by the poorer quality potatoes harvested in 2018.

Consumption figures didn’t show a downturn and there was a good spike in consumption around Mother’s Day.

Harvest 2019

Despite strong prices last year we have not seen a massive increase in planted area, with GB sitting at around 118,000ha of potatoes, similar to 2018.

The lack of growth has been put down to a high price for seed and high growing costs.

Production for 2019 should be around 5.1m-5.2m tonnes; slightly up from just under 5m last year, but some way off from previous crops of 5.5m.

European production

Production in Europe is estimated to be up on last year’s poor yields, but Eudall still believes the continent needs “a good shower every week to get a good harvest”.