Demand for potatoes from shoppers is reportedly as high as peak levels, typically seen around the Christmas period. Demand for the vegetable generally peaks around the festive period due in part to an increase in home-cooked meals.
Demand for potatoes from shoppers is reportedly as high as peak levels, typically seen around the Christmas period.
Demand for the vegetable generally peaks around the festive period due in part to an increase in home-cooked meals.
Growers had reported that demand was relatively steady this year due to ongoing poor weather. However, demand for potatoes at retail level has increased over the past week.
Coronavirus fears
Fears over the coronavirus has seen shoppers come out in droves to stock up on food and other essentials. However, shoppers have been reassured there is ample supply of food to fill shop shelves, negating the need to panic buy.
As consumers are set to prepare more meals at home over the coming weeks, demand for potatoes and other farm produce is expected to remain steady.
Supply
Last autumn, potato growers had to contend with one of the most challenging harvests in recent memory.
Wet weather and saturated ground conditions led to a staggered harvest, with lower saleable yield.
Around 1,000ac of potatoes were still in the ground over winter, but some efforts have been made to harvest this crop recently. Growers suggest that there is ample supply in potato stores to meet demand.
A field of potatoes only half-harvested near Ballyhow, Co Wexford, as the tracks turn to streams of water after storm Brendan. \ Philip Doyle
However, with continued poor weather, early crop planting may be delayed further, which will likely reduce the supply of new-season early crop potatoes coming to the market later in the year.
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