The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) says in its June 1 potato market report that demand is just about on par with 2019 levels before the pandemic hit. However, the start of the school holidays could negatively impact this.
Liftings of the earliest varieties continue this week. But it will be a few weeks before the first lifting of queens takes place in the southeast. Stocks of premium-quality packing material are tightening as we head into the month of June. Growers who are storing crops continue to be hammered by storage costs.
Weather-wise, 10mm to 40mm of rain fell in most areas across Northern Europe over the last 10 days. What’s more, there were further showers on Tuesday. There is now less concern about early crop development and buyers are much more relaxed. Factory production remains at full capacity. Growers have shown more willingness to offer free buy this week and values have plateaued having reached their highest for the year last week.
In the UK, sales of early crops in the potato market are described as “slightly disappointing” to date and irrigation continues in many areas.