There are worrying signs that the UK’s farmers are starting to turn their backs on the potato 🥔 Leading to predictions of higher prices and shortages for the British consumer
“A lot of horticulture depends on being able to store produce in a chilled way and that does use a lot of energy,” explained Rupert Weaver, horticulture adviser at NFU. “So that’s going to be a really big concern as well. Not just the cost of making the potatoes, but storing them as well.”Westerton Farmers in Aberdeenshire took the decision not to plant potatoes in 2023 after the farm’s electricity bill increased by 500 per cent.
While potatoes are the only crop the farm will stop growing this year, farm partner Fiona Smith said her “entire business is impacted” by rising bills.“We have had so many hurdles in the past – fuel crisis, fertiliser price hike, labour shortages -, it’s tough, and I’m sure we aren’t the only business feeling this way.”
Despite the rising costs associated with growing potatoes, supermarkets have been reluctant to pay higher prices for the vegetable. “The open market price of potatoes at the moment is about the same as it was a year ago,” said Mr Porter. In comparison, crops such as wheat saw a big increase in prices last year to correspond with rising production costs, making it a more attractive option to farmers watching their margins squeeze.
But the era of the cheap British potato might soon be over. Mr Porter predicts we will see a 10 per cent increase in the cost of potatoes over the coming months as the supply from last year’s harvest starts to run out. Prices will likely rise even higher from October if the potato harvest is smaller than last year’s, he added.
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