Cultivar buyers for the main processors are active in the market and particularly for delivery in May, June, and July, with European futures prices slightly off but broadly unchanged this week.

“Planting is proceeding well, with main crop progress put at 25 to 50% across mainland Northern Europe,” according to a recent Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) press release.

In the UK, sales are “ticking over” but stocks have been slow to clear after the holiday period in some areas. Sellers with poorer quality samples are now pushing harder to clear stocks and some lower values have been taken to obtain movement.

For Ireland, the approaching bank holiday’s weekend demand for stock destined for the foodservice sector is thriving.

“Plantings continue this week particularly in the northeast, with excellent ground conditions. It is largely reported that spiraling input costs will lead to less planting of potatoes this year. The margin for growing potatoes has always been tight, but the upcoming season will not be viable if growers don’t get price increases,” the report indicates.