UK: Good harvesting conditions but average yields for potatoes

With the potato harvest virtually complete, generally good harvesting conditions enabled many British growers to meet their contracts, however, yields and quality are average following a less than ideal growing season. AHDB market analyst Arthur Marshall says although harvesting had been a week or so behind average, there had been no significant problems with getting the crop lifted. Ben Sykes, who grows 220 hectares (550 acres) of potatoes near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, says harvesting went well. “It started a bit too dry and we had a bit of bruising but we had rain between October 10-14 which led to perfect harvesting conditions. We finished on October 28; we usually aim to finish by the end of October. “Yields have been very average. We fulfilled our contracts but there was not a lot of surplus. Last year the stores were overflowing. Quality is ok. We had the odd little bit of secondary wounding early in harvesting but hopefully we will be ok.” More