Typical Bank Holiday weather hits spuds
By FWi staff
THE great British weather continues to affect the potato trade across the country after another week of rain, cooler temperatures, wind and hail.
In Jersey exports are similar to this time last year, totalling 24,987t by Tuesday (30 May).
The quality of Cornwalls potatoes is reported to be very good and most of the covered crop has been cleared. Prices are reaching 250/t for graded ex-farm samples.
Multiple buyers are showing good interest in Pembroke stock and growers are now moving onto the open ground crop.
Light soils in the east have not disrupted lifting of Rocket and Maris Bard, with prices ranging from 280 and 300+ respectively.
Rain has slowed supplies of new-crop to the wholesale market and, with little competition from imports, prices have held steady.
Old-crop
Bulk grade 1 material is steady, with Cara mainly 60-70/t and Piper fetching 100-125/t, up to 200/t for best packers.
In the east, Edwards are fetching from 70/t up to 160/t, and best whites are worth 110/t.
Grade 2 material is from 10/t, with most between 20-40/t for all varieties.
Bag trade is slow this week. Piper ranges from 30-40/t, but mainly 60-100/t, with the odd 160/t for best frying material in the east.
Best Cara are fetching 60/t, with best whites worth up to 90 in the east and reds 80.
The weekly GB ex-farm average fell 0.18p, ending last week at 69.85/t.