Merchants and retailers urged to address low price of potatoes

IFA president John Bryan has called on retailers and merchants to address the low prices currently being paid for potatoes.

Speaking at yesterday’s National Potato Conference and Trade Show in Dublin, he said growers are at risk of going out of business, with wholesale prices generally failing to even cover the farmer’s production costs.

Mr Bryan said: “The farm gate price has reduced by nearly 30% in the last two years, and aggressive discounting by the supermarkets has wiped out grower margins. The investment by growers in delivering a top-quality product from 25,000 acres across the country must be recognised.