Poor harvest weather represents the best hope of a revival in European potato prices, which have been depressed a bigger and better crop this year, sending prices in the UK down 12% in one week.

Potato farmers are suffering "low" prices through much of the European Union, amid estimates of much-improved production this year, US Department of Agriculture attaches in the bloc noted, reported agrimoney.com.

Output of ware potatoes, for eating, in Poland, the EU's biggest producer, is seen reviving 3.5% to 8.8m tonnes, with the crop in the Netherlands and Belgium gaining 3.8%, despite a dip in sowings.

German output is expected to come in 10% higher, as "planting and growing conditions in early spring were good", the attaches said.

In France -where the harvest is expected to rise 10% to 5.58m tonnes, its highest for at least five years - "quality is reported to be good" too, with "more large-sized potatoes due to the good weather conditions throughout the season".