Tasmanian potato growers accept 6% price rise from McCain

Tasmanian potato growers supplying McCain Foods have accepted a price rise for their current crop.

About two-thirds of the company's Tasmanian farmer suppliers met last night and accepted a McCain offer of $20 a tonne more than last year, for potatoes being harvested this autumn.

McCain senior executive responsible for the supply of raw vegetables in Australia and New Zealand, Tony Ford, made the offer and some additions for small potatoes and plant variety rights, which take the price increase up to $25.50.

Growers representative Daryl Lohrey says that's about a 6 per cent price rise and in line with the recent gains made by McCain Ballarat growers and Tasmania's processing potato growers supplying Simplot.

Negotiations are just starting on the McCain processing potato price for the coming 2011-2012 crop.