News on The Potato Supply Chain from Ireland

Not getting the maincrop harvest completed until the days directly before Christmas has added considerably to the production costs incurred during 2020 by some potato growers.

Consumption and retail demand remains strong as we approach week 4 of lockdown measures although processing trade remains minimal.

The potato trade has been warned to have all seed potatoes for next year’s crop imported from Britain by December 31. A trade notice issued by the Irish Department of Agriculture said imports of 'certified seed and ware potatoes' from Britain will be prohibited from the end of 2020 when the UK leaves the EU.

World Potato Congress Inc., Europatat and the Irish Potato Federation have announced the postponement of the World Potato Congress (WPC) and the Europatat Congress planned for May/June in Dublin in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Registration for the World Potato Congress 2021from May 31 to June 3, 2021 in Dublin, Ireland is Now Open!

Freezing temperatures around Ireland over the past week has damaged many early potato crops.

A surge in consumer demand for healthy home-cooked foods has seen a 'phenomenal' uplift in fresh potato sales – with increases as high as 70% with certain customers, according to Tom Keogh, managing director of well-known potato and crisp company Keogh’s.

An Irish farm has found an innovative way to keep Ireland fed during the coronavirus pandemic: a contactless drive-through potato service.

With the COVID-19 situation developing over the past week demand across all sectors has been mixed. Demand from retailers this week has soared and is reportedly as high as the Christmas period when trade normally peaks.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) estimates that 5% of the potato crop across the country remains in the ground. That said some farmers have a lot more acres remaining than others, depending on the weather they were greeted with in the past few months.

In Ireland, dryer weather is welcomed this week by areas where harvesting conditions are problematic, particularly Donegal. This dry period will hopefully aid the digging of the main Rooster crop. National Potato Day takes place on October 4th this year.

In Ireland, digging of new season Rooster continues and increased prepack volumes are available on supermarket shelves this week. Excellent quality is reported to date of the main season crop.

Teagasc and IPM Potato Group (IPM) have recently signed a new fifteen year agreement in Oak Park, Carlow.

Ireland and a World Potato Congress are completely synonymous. Because of history and tradition, Ireland’s relationship with the potato is unique. In the late sixteenth century, the potato made its way from Peru to Ireland.

David Rodgers, growing potatoes in normally lush and fertile North Co Dublin says the unprecedented conditions over recent weeks – from an exceptionally cold spring to a record-breaking hot summer – have forced his potato plants into “shutting down”.

The Irish Potato Federation – with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Bord Bia, Failte Ireland and Teagasc – has won its bid to host the World Potato Congress (WPC) in 2021 in Dublin.

A reversal in potato consumption trends since 2012 in Ireland sees sales of the crop reach close to 2007 levels.

Grimme Ireland recently moved to a newly constructed Sales and Service Center for its Agricultural Machinery on a one hectare plot in Balbriggan, 25 km North of Dublin.