Domestic potato consumption appears to have plateaued with slight improvement following poorer weather last week, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association. Rainfall over the past week was welcomed by growers, although regional variation was significant.
Queens continue to be lifted in the southeast this week. Demand is slow to pick up to date. It will be a couple of weeks before crops are fit along the east coast. There is demand for top-quality packing main-crop material.
Across Europe, thunderstorms have been welcomed. However, many regions are becoming increasingly dry again. Buyers for the processing sector are restricting their movement to contracts and small amounts of excess to contract.
In the UK, it is reported that old crop orders continue to disappoint, and stocks are slow to clear. Most of the demand is for whites. Quality samples of old crop Markies are clearing on repeat order but good samples of Agria are now very difficult to find and there have been rejections again this week.
Potato consumption
Rooster box prices ranged from a low of €380 to a high of €450, averaging out at €400. Rooster 10kg ranged from €4 to €5, averaging out at €4.50. And Kerr Pinks ranged from €5 to €6, averaging out at €5.50.