Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2023 51 INTERNATIONAL ‘Russet prices could drive varietiesdemand’ HIGHER prices on Russet potatoes in the US could increase demand for other varieties, it has been claimed. David Moquist of O C Schulz & Sons in North Dakota said if Russets run short and are high priced, it might push some people towards red and yellow potatoes which we grow. That should help create more demand for the coloured varieties.” He said demand for Yellows is growing every year. Challenges lessening says commission director THE challenges faced by potato growers in the US’s Washington State over the past couple of years appear to be fading a little, according to a recent Washington State Farm Bureau Report. According to Washington Potato Commission’s Executive Director, Chris Voigt, the bi-partisan bill gave the federal maritime commission more power in holding shipping lines accountable and meant enforcement tools were introduced so more potatoes could be exported. Chris said inflation was now the biggest problem for growers. Going large in Idaho LARGER pack sizes have been trending in Idaho, the US’s largest growing state, according to Ross Johnson of the Idaho Potato Commission. PAPAS announces plan to combat nematodes A TEAM of US scientists and researchers named Potatoes & Pests – Actionable Science Against Nematodes (PAPAS) has announced plans to address industry-wide challenges in managing potato nematodes. Australia’s potato chip shortage: Whenwill it pass? FLAVIO Macau, Associate Dean at Edith Cowan University’s School of Business and Law in Australia, recently analysed the potato chip shortage in his country. He pointed out that Coles had introduced a two-item limit for shoppers seeking frozen potato products, fish and chip businesses are under pressure and some are outraged that McDonald’s is launching a new potato product in the middle of a crisis. He said the problem is a temporary imbalance between supply and demand. While countries like China are pushing potato consumption as part of its food security policy, and rising urbanisation worldwide is driving up consumption of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook foods, fast-food chains are cashing in on the opportunity. McDonald’s is set to continue its expansion in Australia. In 2020, McDonald’s Australia purchased more than 133,000 tons of potatoes. With the launch of its potato scallops with chicken salt product, demand for processed potatoes should only increase, he said. European countries exporting frozen potatoes to Australia are facing much higher energy bills and many growers sold supplies early in the season to save on storage, meaning fewer potatoes are available to export. In New Zealand, the main exporter to Australia, vast amounts of rainfall had reduced yields, and Australian potato farmers are also struggling with the extreme weather. However, fewer floods are expected for 2023 and there could well be healthy yields later in the year, he said. Unfortunately, too many small farmers are quitting, he pointed out. The 2020 European Union farm census show consolidation is not slowing, with about 800 farmers quitting the sector every day. In 2021-22 the Australian Bureau of Statistics registered 87,800 agricultural businesses, compared to about 134,000 in 2009-10 – roughly a 35% reduction. Some of the value of previous exceptional yields has been lost owing to transportation and storage bottlenecks. But with proper conditions, many could be stockpiled for long periods of time, he said. If storage costs can be brought down, growers can keep surplus coming from bumper harvests instead of selling them immediately at discounted prices. “Quicker deals with friendly international partners can also provide faster imports in dire times,” he said. “It’s up to Australia to create the right conditions to better cope with more volatility, so empty shelves can become a thing of the past.” ‘Coles had introduced a two-item limit for shoppers seeking frozen potato products’.