Although buyers are now much calmer, the potato processing activity is still quite high throughout Europe, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) experts recently announced.

In the UK, the demand for old maincrop is virtually entirely for whites, and quality samples are once more moving well. The market for old-crop Maris Piper potatoes is rapidly declining, but in the East, purchasers who are not yet persuaded that the new crop is suitable to have shown increased interest.

In Ireland, the retail markets remain static as school holidays are in full swing; demand for the processing sector is buoyant. More queens are coming onto the market this week as liftings are approx. 10 days ahead of last year. Yields are reported to be above average and eating quality is very good. Roadside sales are very slow to take off this year. The majority of home guard and premiere are now cleared.

“According to provisional IFA early planting figures, the area of earlies planted is slightly less than the 2021 area. The area of the premiere and home guard is similar to last year and a slight reduction of the area of queens,” the report concludes.