GROWERS and suppliers have reported being left with a surplus of potatoes this season after reporting a dip in the market.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Cambridgeshire grower Luke Ablett and Isle of Ely Produce Limited’s Matthew Grindling said they had both noticed declining demand.
Luke, who farms approximately 161.87 hectares in Ramsey St Mary’s, said: “The market for potatoes seems to have come to an absolute halt, and no one seems to know why – it’s a mystery, it’s like someone has put the brake on the industry.”
Matthew said there had been a particular decline in the fish and chip sector, adding: “Many farmers took a significant gamble this year, storing potatoes much later than usual in the hope of securing higher prices. Unfortunately, this has often meant storing potatoes in conditions that aren’t ideal for long-term keeping, leading to a decline in quality.”
President of the National Federation of Fish Friers, Andrew Crook, acknowledged that there were challenges in the food service sector.
“We are in a situation currently where the price we need to sell fish and chips for needs to increase just as consumers have less money in their pockets, so we are seeing a fall in demand,” he said.
Isle of Ely Produce Limited grows approximately 10,000 tons annually.
The warm weather is one factor thought to be taking its toll on consumer demand, as consumers have typically shifted towards salads.
In Ireland, it’s a similar story. IFA, Ireland’s largest farming representative organisation, said the market for processing material is currently subdued. More Queens were expected to enter the market from the northeast and yields were described as good, with demand for early varieties positive.
Across Europe, domestic markets are also under pressure, with limited demand for exports. Many regions continue to face drought, with recent rainfall totals of only 15 to 20mm, although heavier rain has been recorded in southern Belgium and Germany. Long-term storers are losing confidence, as the new crop is advancing rapidly. In the UK, several buyers of chipping varieties were keen to clear old crop stocks before moving on to the new season.
Source: BBC / IFA
