Potato Market Update 1st May

With the weather remaining very mixed, home consumption and retail trade remains strong. Some planting progress was made last week when the weather allowed, however, it took the ground a few days to dry out before any groundwork could commence. Wet weather conditions this week has halted work once again. With plantings so late this year and last seasons stocks so tight, supplies will be increasingly tight in late June/July.

Across Europe. planting is still very slow with cold weather and frequent showers delaying progress. Hail storms in Holland last week are reported to have caused damage to emerging crops including onions. In Northern France only 5% is planted at best. In Belgium and Holland around 25% of the early area is planted.