Despite reassurances from stakeholders that fresh potatoes will be hitting the market soon to push prices down, Cypriot spuds have seen their price sky-rocket to €2 per kilo.
In September and October, the shortage was created by a drought while early exports left the island with a serious shortage of potatoes with prices in September and October going up to €1.30 and €1.40 respectively.
Consumers hope the prices will drop over the coming weeks as more of the new crop enter the market and needs will be met by the winter crop.
In other parts of Europe “High temperatures and lower than expected rainfall led to serious shortages in countries like Britain, which is traditionally our biggest customer,” said Anastasiou.
While this gave Cypriot farmers an edge over their competitors, it put a strain on the local market. This was coupled with extreme weather conditions on the island which destroyed a significant part of new crops cultivated from June onwards. “Local producers lost 30% of the crops to the drought,” Anastasiou told The Financial Mirror.
Turkish Cypriot media claim that potatoes were sold at €4 a kilo during the first week of November.
