Irish Consumer Potato Demand and Retail Sales Grew Stronger Than Anticipated
Irish consumer potato demand and retail sales have exceeded expectations due to cooler evening weather during the past week. The demand for potatoes has been high, and the food service industry has done well in recent weeks.
“Some negative sentiment from some processing sector potato buyers in the first two months of 2025 has reversed in recent weeks, with steady demand for peeling potatoes reported. Growers who have potatoes in storage are now facing rising storage costs as temperatures rise in the coming weeks and refrigeration costs will increase. These growers will be looking to recoup this extra storage cost from packers and processors,” according to a recent IFA potato report.
All potato varieties are on schedule for planting, and last week’s excellent sowing conditions persisted nationwide. Conditions have completely changed from a year ago when wet weather made most of the land unusable.
