Late British spring sets market in motion

Normally, potato growers in the eastern English coastal region can get into the fields early. The soil is sandy and the climate mild. This spring, however, it is a matter of finding suitable plots. The result of an extremely wet winter and subsequent wet spring.

Early (bantam) potatoes, which are mainly grown for the table potato market, go into the ground at least a month later. Persistent low temperatures and high rainfall do not help crop development. This also applies to other spring crops such as sugar beets.

Flooding
According to official data from the British weather institute Met Office, many areas received record amounts of rainfall in March. In places more than 200% of the average. Potato growing areas in central England and southeast Scotland received the most rain, which led to local flooding. In the drier east there was slightly less precipitation. A quarter to a half more than normal.

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In some places there was a lot of precipitation in March.In other years, the planting machines were in full rotation in mid-April. Work has now virtually come to a standstill throughout the country. It is often too wet even for spreading fertilizer and tilling the soil.

Rejections
The spring slowdown is slowly becoming noticeable on the British potato market. Growers therefore reject low offers, bearing in mind the expectation that the new harvest will arrive later and the old harvest may become popular.

Just like on the European continent, the potato harvest last fall did not go without a hitch. However, bad batches were delivered early. The Maris Piper variety in particular, the most widely grown potato in the country, is not without storage problems. Apart from germination, lots are holding up well on average.

Rising prices
The demand for quality is especially noticeable at Maris Piper. AHDB Potato reports a price range of £23 to £29 per 100 kilos. Converted from €27 to €33,50. Please note that this concerns sorted batches in small packaging. At around €20 per 100 kilos, prices for fresh fries are at a somewhat lower level. This also concerns sorted consignments, in 25 kilo bags. These are sold at the many fish & chip shops.

England expects a beautiful summer week. This moderates price increases somewhat. Traders mainly think that the early new potatoes (salads) are doing well. There is still a chance of further increases for the fresh fries and table market.

British mainland demand
A late British spring also gives hope to the potato sector in other Western European countries. Over there wrote we already talked about it last week. However, traders first visit Northern France and Belgium to buy potatoes. Only then will it be the Netherlands' turn, because transport costs are simply higher here. Moreover, not everyone is eager to trade with the British. Chip manufacturers probably have the option to cover their raw material needs internally.

The middleman, who buys fresh fries, for example, looks for golden crumbs. Especially in the field of Agria, a variety that is increasingly gaining a foothold with the British, extra research is required this season. The demand from England for specific parties can cause commotion in the market.