UK Potato prices rise after weather disruption

Potato prices jumped sharply last week, as cold weather continued to disrupt movement between farms, packers and retailers.

The Potato Council's GB free market average rose by £5.17 to £170.86/t - almost £81/t higher than the same week last year, as movement remained disrupted and packers secured quality stock for Christmas requirements. That boosted the weekly average price by £12.55, to £161.07/t, with the help of better processing and packing contract values.

"Demand from packers is starting to increase in line with more normal pre-Christmas programmes, but overall volume of movement remained disrupted last week due to a reluctance to load in the wintry weather conditions,"said a Potato Council report.

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