Australia has had an extremely dry autumn and a late break for winter with temperatures around three degrees higher than normal, which has contributed to a potato shortage in the country.
"The unusual climatic conditions impacted tuber initiation and therefore the number of tubers set under each bush," explains Richard Haynes, National Account Manager at Elders. "These potatoes have been ground stored for the last few months, and until the "spring crop" starts to be harvested, albeit earlier than normal, due to the shortage, we will not see the quality or volume increase. Realistically, we will not be back to a normal supply season until December at the earliest."
© Darko Plohl | Dreamstime
South Australia, which produces the majority of the country's fresh table potatoes, has been impacted the most, so the volume coming out of the Gatton region in Queensland is currently good quality at a fair price to the grower.
"The shortage is only on fresh table potatoes and is impacting the eastern states of Australia, from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, up to Queensland. The supermarkets have opened up their supply specs to accommodate the shortage of potatoes, ensuring no one goes without potatoes."
Australia has an extremely strict biosecurity program around potatoes and does not allow the import of fresh potatoes, which has contributed to the shortage, although the country does import a large volume of frozen fries.
"Once the supply pressure eases up, the prices will get back to normal. I expect that by Christmas time, we will be back to a normal supply environment."
For more information:
Richard Haynes
Elders
[email protected]
