While potato planting is still going strong in certain areas of Europe, last week’s temperatures fell sharply in others. This will unavoidably result in higher quantities of spud waste and make some crops inappropriate.

“Heavy rainfall over the last two months has washed soil off ridges and made crops very vulnerable to greening and frost damage. It is reported that there is still in the region of 3% to 5% of the crop in the ground in North Eastern France. In Belgium, 5% to 10% remains and in Holland possibly 10% to 15%,” according to the latest IFA report.

In Ireland, demand from both retailers and the food service sector is very strong in the run-up to Christmas. Prices are being quoted according.

“Good progress has been made harvesting crops over the past month, however, there are reports of many issues in stores from harvesting in such poor conditions. This will likely further reduce the saleable yield of crops,” the experts concluded.