Estimates from the five main North-Western European Potato Growers, (NEPG) – the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France – indicate that these countries’ acreage could reach 546,500 hectares this year (up 19,500ha on 2015). This level of planting is back to the levels of 2010 and 2014 resulting from an increased demand.
Acreage in the UK is likely to be the same as last year but Belgium is up by 6% compared to 2015. Generally, as a result of cold and wet weather early in the season, planting is running two to three weeks behind so NEPG say that at this stage it is not clear yet if the overall tonnage harvested will be increased.