UK crops are likely to be in higher demand after floods affected European growers, with supplies for frozen chips particularly affected, said Lynx Purchasing experts in their Summer 2021 report.
On the same note, according to an article recently published by The Sun, Rachel Dobson, managing director at LYNX, said that the recent floods in Europe have affected potato growers and processors in the region, with varieties grown for frozen chips particularly affected.
“It means that UK pubs and restaurants serving popular dishes like fish and chips could find their usual supplier isn’t able to deliver. The shortage abroad is likely to have a knock-on effect on availability of UK-grown potatoes. Come Christmas, we could find that the roast potato, a staple of festive dinners, is also in short supply.”
20,000 ha’s of European Potato Crops, Damaged by Storms
The latest Irish Farmers Association (IFA) expert’s “Potato Market Update” report estimates the area damaged by the storms two weeks ago in Belgium, Holland and Germany at around 20,000 ha’s.
“A full assessment can only be made once the crop reaches maturity, but blight is widespread and tuber quality and yields are very likely to have suffered”, the cited document reveals.
In fact, information about this situation was published in IFA’s previous report, where the same experts wrote that storm conditions have wreaked havoc across Europe.
“Rainfall totals were up to 120 and 150mm in the worst hit areas which included the main early processing area in Germany, Southeastern Holland, East Belgium and Northeastern France. There was an exceptional 200 mm over three days in the center of this block. Some growers have already resigned themselves to serious crop losses”, the experts explained.
Potato crops were also ruined by flooding in 2019, leading to fears of price rises of crisps and chips.
Meanwhile, British potatoes including Maris Piper and King Edward “will not exist in 20 years”, according to scientists.
