Potato growers ‘must target processing’

POTATO growers have been urged by a Teagasc specialist, Tom Maher, to develop the processing production side of the enterprise.

“Almost 100,000 tonnes of processed potatoes are now coming into this country each year, and there is an onus on us to capture as much of this market as possible,” he said.

Mr Maher said over 50% of British potatoes now go into the processing sector. In Ireland, the figure is nearer 10%.