Much of Northern Europe is still relatively dry, raising concerns about the early potato crop’s development.
Fresh cultivar market prices are keeping constant, and new spud crop from Spain and Italy is becoming more visible. The potato export demand from Eastern Europe, notably Poland, is still strong, but the market is price sensitive, according to a recent Irish Farmers’ Association report.
In the UK clearance of potato stocks is reported to be ‘steady’, with sales also reported to be slow since Christmas.
For Ireland, markets remain largely unchanged, with sales and consumption settling back to pre-Covid-19 levels.
“Digging of early Home Guard and Premier varieties have commenced in the southeast this week, with small quantities available in retailers. Quality is reported to be very good so far. Recent rainfall should drive the growth of early crops. Stocks of premium quality packing main crop material are tightening. Storage costs are putting huge financial pressure on growers. There are also reports of some quality issues emerging and saleable yields hit as a result,” the report concludes.
