Australian water shortages lead to rise in potato imports

Vegetable processor Simplot Australia will import a third of its potatoes this year, more than it has ever had to before.

Concerns over water shortages in Tasmania meant that not enough farmers were able to sign contracts to supply potatoes to Simplot.

Managing director Terry O'Brien says it was water, and not prices, which deterred farmers from planting.

"We've contracted to bring fries in from New Zealand and from Canada, our US parent company is supplying some out of Canada for us,"he says.