According to the latest Irish Farmers Association (IFA), European potato exports are currently quieter than they have been in recent months.
It’s latest potato report states, “In many countries, preliminary figures suggest that planting figures have remained quite static.” In the UK, there has been a better movement of contracts this week and “a few more free buy orders” but buyers have raised quality standards.
“Bruising and wireworm have been a major cause of rejection in the South,” the report adds, with the Irish retail trade static and similar to 2019 levels.
“Home guard and premier continue to clear and most growers should be finished in the next 10 days. Sales are reported to be much slower than last year. Processing trade remains buoyant as we approach the peak holiday period. The price of peeling material is in the region of €180/ton. There is good demand for top-quality maincrop material,” the IFA’s potato analysts pointed out.