Amidst continuous rainfall and saturated conditions, Irish potato farmers are grappling with the potential scarcity of the Rooster variety, a staple in Ireland. Meath farmer Ivan Curran, who typically yields 11,000 tonnes of potatoes annually, highlighted the dire situation, noting that 40% of his crop supplies supermarkets while the remaining 60% are processed at the Tayto factory.
With Roosters constituting 70% of potato sales in Ireland, the impact of adverse weather is significant. Curran expressed concerns over the delayed planting season, emphasizing the critical planting window in mid-April to avoid yield losses. The broader European context mirrors Ireland's predicament, with rainfall hindering planting activities, potentially leading to a reliance on more costly imports from Cyprus and Egypt.
Furthermore, the scarcity of Roosters is prompting smaller shops to source these potatoes from supermarkets due to wholesale shortages.
Source: breakingnews.ie