Northern Ireland: Potentially poor potato harvest

The new potatoes season is getting off to a slow start, mainly down to unfavourable growing conditions and the cold wet summer weather. “Spring was late so we were later planting, but once we did get the potatoes into the ground we got some nice weather which moved things along nicely,” explained David Morrow from Glen of Antrim Potatoes, Northern Ireland. “Then we had a cold, wet June which is going to challenge yield due to lower than expected tuber numbers, volumes are likely to be down double digit percentage by weight on last year but this will depend on August and Septembers weather. Its looking like a potentially poor harvest.” Demand for last season’s potatoes has been very good until now, but there has been less interest in the new crop. More