Potato boost

11 December 1998

Potato boost

POTATO prices continue to recover, gaining value at a rate not seen since the back end of last season.

Latest figures from the British Potato Council show the average price for the week ending Dec 4 rose to £157.87, up £7 on the week and £35 on the month, and almost £80/t ahead of last year.

Although 95% of the crop has now been harvested, fresh liftings were difficult to handle and wastage levels were high. Growers are also reluctant to open stores and release good quality material.

However, traders and retailers are now showing more resistance at these levels, reports the BPC. The price range remains wide, from £80/t for fresh-lifted material to three times that for top packing varieties. &#42