Trade of potatoes is buoyant at present, as expected for the busiest shopping week of the year, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) says in its weekly potato market report. The demand and price for peeling produce remains very strong with prices quoted in the region of €250-€270/tonne, with many quoted at the high end of this scale.
Input prices and the cost of storing potatoes continues to be a main concern for growers heading into the new year when more cold stores will be in operation. Some growers are currently weighing up their options with regard to continuing next season.
Across Europe, IFA reports that demand for the holiday period had just started to improve. Export demand is reported to be reduced in the run up to the holiday period although exporters in Holland report a more positive tone and particularly to the Mediterranean countries with the odd price increase.
In the U.K. orders, including free buy are just starting to pick up for both whites and Piper, but ex farm values are slow to improve. There have been rejections recently for internal blackening.
Source: IFA
Photo: Credit IFA
