The wholesale price of potatoes has risen across Europe as farmers struggle to complete harvest and an increasing number of fields look like they will be abandoned.
According to reports, farmers in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and the UK have had to stop lifting as soil conditions have made it impossible for tractors to operate in fields without getting stuck.
Potato futures for May last week hit their highest seasonal level for 14 years, although trade volumes were limited. At the end of November, the North-Western European Potato Growers estimated that 15% of the Dutch crop remained in the ground. Other estimates suggest as much as 20% of the crop was unharvested at the start of December, with 5% of the seed crop still to be lifted. Overall, some 3.5 to 4 million tonnes are outstanding.
In its latest crop report the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) commented, ‘Recent estimates suggest that 20% of the total crop is still in the ground in The Netherlands and that it will take a week to ten days of dry weather before conditions are dry enough for any work. In Germany, France, Belgium, and Holland combined there are still around 3.5 to 4m tonnes to lift. Much of this is in coastal areas where there has been heavy rainfall again over the last two days.’ Some 10% of the Irish crop is believed to be unharvested.
As a result of the shortage, Irish retailers have increased their prices. IFA Potato Committee chair, Sean Ryan, commented: “LIDL and ALDI are the only retailers yet to come on board. Right now, 7.5kg packs of Rooster are selling for around €8 in most shops. The reality is that Irish potato growers are totally dependent on the retailers delivering a realistic farmgate price.”
He also discounted rumours that Irish potatoes would be in short supply for Christmas. “There’s little doubt that Irish potato supplies will come under pressure towards the end of the season, but there are enough supplies now in store to keep the Irish sector supplied through until the March/April period of next year,” he added.
