In the UK, potato aficionados are witnessing significant price hikes across all forms, including chips, mash, roasties, and crisps, following recent storms that have left agricultural fields waterlogged. The aftermath has seen the cost of certain potato varieties climb by up to 22% in just over a month.
Notably, Maris Piper potatoes, a popular and versatile choice, have experienced a price increase of more than 10% across major retailers like Lidl, Waitrose, Aldi, Tesco, and Sainsbury's. Sainsbury's British Maris Piper Potatoes (2kg) recorded the most substantial monthly price escalation, surging 22.2% from £1.35 to £1.65 per bag. Tesco's equivalent product also saw a significant rise, jumping 21.3% in the same timeframe. The country's leading supermarket attributes these price inflations to "challenging growing conditions" induced by the wet weather, prompting them to adjust their size and shape standards to include previously undesirable wonky potatoes.
The past year's prices were similarly impacted by adverse weather, with Tim O'Malley of Nationwide Produce describing the season as 'dreadful'. The NFU highlights the growers' plight, facing weather extremes from droughts to heavy rains since summer 2022, causing early market releases of stocks meant for storage. This situation raises concerns over potential shortages towards the season's end. The British Retail Consortium assures that supermarkets are well-versed in managing such disruptions, aiming to mitigate customer impact. These weather-related challenges extend to other UK-grown vegetables, increasing reliance on European imports.
Source: dailymail.co.uk