Potatoes remain the golden wonder as sales top €136 million annually

THE floury Irish spud is still top of the pops with consumers, according to new research from Bord Bia.

Shoppers spend €136 million a year in the overall retail potato market in Ireland and most of it is on home-grown varieties. Exact figures are not available, but Bord Bia estimates the fresh potato market is 90% supplied by Irish producers, with 10% imported. The imports consist primarily of new season potatoes from certain Mediterranean countries and baby salad varieties.

Some 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres) of commercial potatoes are grown in Ireland annually. Over half of the national production is based in north Leinster with Meath, Dublin and Louth being the core areas.