Cold Spell Firms Potato Price
There was serious disruption to the potato supply chain in different regions across the country due to the snow last week.
Retail outlets who had access to local suppliers, tended to fare better at ensuring continuity of supply, which again illustrates some of the disadvantages of central distribution.
The market remains very positive for kerr pink and golden wonder varieties while the freakish weather certainly had the effect of firming the price of roosters with returns inching up on some markets during the week.
The cold temperatures and subsequent thaw will have added to the problems of the unharvested crop in the ground. Obviously, there was no more planting of earlies last week, with a similar story in the UK where traditional early areas in Cornwall for example are well behind in programmed plantings.
Ex-Farm Potato Prices reported to IFA
| Low | High | Average | |
| Rooster Box | €240 | €300 | €260 |
| Rooster 10kg | €2.20 | €2.70 | €2.40 |
| Whites | €180 | €230 | €210 |
| Kerr Pink 10kg | €3.00 | €3.50 | €3.20 |
| Golden Wonder 10kg | €4.50 | €5.50 | €5.00 |
