The beginning of July heralds the beginning of the new potato season.
IFA potato development officer Pat Farrell says after a shaky few years for the market, potato consumption has stabilised and acreage for this year is similar to the previous year.
“In the last two to three weeks, we have had the home garden premiere, the cold weather in April has led to good yields and early acreage levels are similar to last year’s figures.”
Carlow and Wexford have opened the harvesting season so far this year.
Markets and supermarkets are going to make opportunities for themselves wherever they can
John Pettit is the crop and potato agronomist at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford. He said the season ahead is looking good for potato farmers: “There are increases, but they are just marginal at the moment. Markets and supermarkets are going to make opportunities for themselves wherever they can.”
He warned farmers that they need to do more to help themselves and should think carefully before increasing their acreage.
“Bord Bia has done huge marketing in recent years as part of its campaign to promote potatoes. Anything that’s going to promote the food is good. Their marketing of the potato as a quick and easy convenience food is hugely welcomed by all. Good marketing can determine how successful or unsuccessful a product is,” Pettit added.
Salad potatoes
Due to the recent decline in sales, potato farmers have had to look for new ways of enhancing their business. One such opportunity is the growth and increase of salad potatoes. As it stands, Ireland imports a large quantity of salad potatoes from abroad.
The salad potato project is a joint initiative between Teagasc, Bord Bia and the IFA to provide information on salad potatoes to possible new growers and to increase the growth of the crop here in Ireland.
On the topic of the salad potato project, John believes that, similar to the UK, Irish potato growers can’t afford to ignore the growth of salad potatoes, as it can be a big market.
“Growers of salad potatoes need huge attention to detail and need to understand that there is a much higher degree of management needed than normal potato farming. Irrigation is so important and growers have to meet a professional market standard.”
20,000 tonnes of Queens
Over the coming months, Irish consumers are set to spend €175m on Irish-grown potatoes. Around 20,000t of Queens potatoes are predicted to be sold over the coming months, all grown and produced in Ireland by some of the 500 potato growers around the country.
Despite the high volume of potatoes purchased, the industry has suffered a serious sales decline in recent years, with consumption levels dropping by 50% in the last decade.
The recent drop in sales is mainly due to the misconception that potatoes are unhealthy.
This decline in consumption prompted Bord Bia, in conjunction with the European Union, to launch their joint campaign entitled “Potatoes: More than a bit on the side” to increase sales and to dispel the myth that they are fattening.
Bord Bia is trying to get consumers to rethink potatoes by promoting their nutritious benefits, including the fact that they are gluten-free, contain natural fat, are unprocessed and are a source of potassium.
Read more
More optimism at recent potato conference
The beginning of July heralds the beginning of the new potato season.
IFA potato development officer Pat Farrell says after a shaky few years for the market, potato consumption has stabilised and acreage for this year is similar to the previous year.
“In the last two to three weeks, we have had the home garden premiere, the cold weather in April has led to good yields and early acreage levels are similar to last year’s figures.”
Carlow and Wexford have opened the harvesting season so far this year.
Markets and supermarkets are going to make opportunities for themselves wherever they can
John Pettit is the crop and potato agronomist at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford. He said the season ahead is looking good for potato farmers: “There are increases, but they are just marginal at the moment. Markets and supermarkets are going to make opportunities for themselves wherever they can.”
He warned farmers that they need to do more to help themselves and should think carefully before increasing their acreage.
“Bord Bia has done huge marketing in recent years as part of its campaign to promote potatoes. Anything that’s going to promote the food is good. Their marketing of the potato as a quick and easy convenience food is hugely welcomed by all. Good marketing can determine how successful or unsuccessful a product is,” Pettit added.
Salad potatoes
Due to the recent decline in sales, potato farmers have had to look for new ways of enhancing their business. One such opportunity is the growth and increase of salad potatoes. As it stands, Ireland imports a large quantity of salad potatoes from abroad.
The salad potato project is a joint initiative between Teagasc, Bord Bia and the IFA to provide information on salad potatoes to possible new growers and to increase the growth of the crop here in Ireland.
On the topic of the salad potato project, John believes that, similar to the UK, Irish potato growers can’t afford to ignore the growth of salad potatoes, as it can be a big market.
“Growers of salad potatoes need huge attention to detail and need to understand that there is a much higher degree of management needed than normal potato farming. Irrigation is so important and growers have to meet a professional market standard.”
20,000 tonnes of Queens
Over the coming months, Irish consumers are set to spend €175m on Irish-grown potatoes. Around 20,000t of Queens potatoes are predicted to be sold over the coming months, all grown and produced in Ireland by some of the 500 potato growers around the country.
Despite the high volume of potatoes purchased, the industry has suffered a serious sales decline in recent years, with consumption levels dropping by 50% in the last decade.
The recent drop in sales is mainly due to the misconception that potatoes are unhealthy.
This decline in consumption prompted Bord Bia, in conjunction with the European Union, to launch their joint campaign entitled “Potatoes: More than a bit on the side” to increase sales and to dispel the myth that they are fattening.
Bord Bia is trying to get consumers to rethink potatoes by promoting their nutritious benefits, including the fact that they are gluten-free, contain natural fat, are unprocessed and are a source of potassium.
Read more
More optimism at recent potato conference
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