Less than 1% of EU potatoes grown in Ireland in 2014

Ireland produced only 0.6% of the EU’s potatoes in 2014, while Germany produced almost one fifth. Germany was the EU’s biggest potato producer in 2014, producing 19.7% of the EU’s potatoes, according to latest figures on the potato sector from Eurostat. Only 1% of arable land in Ireland is now devoted to potato growing, compared to an EU average of 1.5% and a high of 15% in the Netherlands. Despite this, Irish consumers pay less for potatoes than almost anyone else in Europe. In 2013, the average cost of a kilo of potatoes in Ireland was €0.47, compared to €1.39 in Luxembourg. Only Poland, Latvia and Lithuania were cheaper, according to Eurostat. (Source: Irish Farmers Journal)