Potato Market Report 29th July

Consumption has stabilised following the very hot weather experienced lately, the demand for salad varieties is excellent as expected. New season salads are now available in significant quantities. Old season stocks are becoming significantly scarce and prices should follow accordingly. Potato crops continue to be stressed due to lack of moisture, which is likely to impact yields now in many areas.

Drought persists in Northern Europe and irrigation restrictions are increasingly being enforced. There have been thunderstorms in parts of Germany in the last two weeks. Buyers have come back into the market for old crop. There was no interest in free-buy all season but prices rose significantly over the past week.

In the U.K. drought conditions continue to dominate. Lifting on crisping varieties has now commenced in most areas. Many unirrigated crops and those where water has run out have stopped growing and are being lifted "early".