Europe Potato Lifting ‘Primarily for Storage and Contract Supplies’
Up until last week, potato lifting was going well throughout Europe; unfortunately, rain in Belgium, Northern France, and the South of Holland has slowed things down.
Following projections of just 10% after the previous week, clearance in Belgium is currently between 35 and 50%.
“[EN: Potato] Lifting is primarily for storage and contract supplies to factories,” the latest IFA potato report reveals.
The IFA experts added that there is very little “free buy”. In the U.K. lifting progress is mixed, some areas received heavy rainfall which has halted progress. Excellent progress continues to be made in Scotland where clearance is now put at around 80%.
In Ireland, potato retail sales remain buoyant, as darker evenings kick in consumption usually remains stable at this time of the year.
“Good lifting progress has been made to date and many growers are now waiting for later planted crops to become fit. There are continued reports that yields on later planted crops in particular are reduced,” the IFA report concluded.
