UK: Suffolk’s potato sector shrinks as farmers’ costs rise

Published 2023년 2월 7일

Tridge summary

Suffolk's potato growers are facing a crisis of confidence due to falling prices that can't keep up with increasing costs. Some growers are reducing their growing areas as market forces, disease, and weather risks make potato cultivation less viable. According to James Wrinch of East Suffolk Produce, the situation has many growers feeling unhappy and uncertain. The estimated 18.7% year-on-year rise in farmers' costs contrasts with an average increase in prices of only 11.1%, creating a significant gap.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Suffolk’s potato growers are in the grip of a crisis of confidence as prices fail to keep pace with the costs they face, as Sarah Chambers reports for eadt.co.uk. Many are choosing to cut their growing areas as market forces combined with disease and weather risks make the crop less viable. James Wrinch, managing director at East Suffolk Produce – which has seven farmer members and trades with about 15 altogether – said the climate was tough for growers. They were feeling collectively “grumpy” about the situation. “It’s not fun at the moment,” he admitted. Collectively, his group grows about 80,000t out of the UK total of around 5m tonnes – but overall they will be growing less this season, he said. Farm Business ...

Source: Potatonewstoday