Comment: Consumption remains buoyant this week as more people are based from home. Retail demand remains strong, but is slightly quieter than last week. The food service sector continues to be severely hit. On a positive note, dry weather has allowed plantings to continue across the country and digging of last year’s crop continued also. Quality may be a concern for this material.

In the UK, retail sales soared over the past week for fresh potatoes as widespread panic buying set in. As a result, there has been a large increase in free-buy demand for packing potatoes, for both best- and lower-quality stocks, to help meet this demand. There are some reports that pack houses have pulled forward contracts to help mitigate some of this pressure.

Early plantings continue slowly in the UK this week, with rainfall at the start of the week hindering progress. Across Europe, panic buying has cleared supermarket shelves and supply lines have been caught out by the increase in demand. Generally, there is no shortage of supplies but the main problem now is the availability of transport. Fresh markets are holding firm, but the processing sector continues to be hit by the uncertainty of when volume movement of frozen product to European and global buyers will recommence.