Potato prices rise another £10/t
© Tim Scrivener Old crop potato prices continued to soar in the week to 17 June, with the ADHB weekly average up by £10.39/t to £268.54.
The free-buy average also jumped sharply, up by £12.73/t to £298.78/t.
“Both prices are now the highest they have been since the 2012 season,” said the AHDB report.
“We have continued to see a decrease in the tonnage purchased within the sample, and the proportion of free-buy tonnage remains more than half of the sample, buoying the overall average price.”
See also: Economist report says Brexit could push up food prices
New crop supplies were steadily rising, with pressure on bagged new crop prices.
The warm weather was conducive to good growing conditions, although heavy rain had restricted lifting in parts of the country, added the report.
Maris Bard was being lifted in the East at 25t/ha, with limited lifting for the bag trade under way in Cheshire and Pembrokeshire at yields of around 20t/ha.
“In Cornwall, Lady Rosetta for crisping is on target for the end of the month. But in Scotland, crops are seven to 10 days behind normal.”
Old crop stocks continued to store well in cold stores, with a firm packing trade for the best whites, albeit concentrated on contracted or committed supplies.