More Scottish spuds could find their way on to Christmas dinner plates across the UK thanks to better harvest results north of the border.
According to AHDB Potatoes, Scottish potato production was up this year despite an overall decline in production on a GB basis.
Production in Scotland was up 97,000 tonnes to 1.223million tonnes, from 1.126million tonnes previously. This compares to a 5% decline in total GB production to 5.217million tonnes, from 5.486million tonnes previously.
Scottish yields were also above the GB average at 18.77 tonnes per acre, compared with the GB figure of 18.17 tonnes an acre.
AHDB said the increase in Scottish production was also down to an increase in planted are up to just under 65,000 acres, compared with 58,000 acres the year before.
AHDB Potatoes analyst, Arthur Marshall, said the smaller GB crop was boosting prices.
“For example, Scottish grade 1 packing whites were averaging £208 a tonne ex-farm in the first week of December, compared to £155 a tonne in the same week a year ago,” said Mr Marshall.
“Also, the price differential between Scottish and English packing whites, and Maris Piper, is widening – while Scottish prices have been rising, English prices have been rising faster. The wider the difference gets, the more likely Scottish supplies are to head south as English-based buyers are more likely to look towards cheaper Scottish supplies.”
AHDB’s head of crop trade market development, Rob Burns, said after Maris Piper, the second most popular potato planted in Scotland this year was the seed variety Hermes which was destined for foreign climes.
He said early data showed export figures were “looking very healthy” with non-EU seed exports from July to November up 40%.
Regulatory and monitoring body Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) data shows more than 54,000 tonnes of Scottish seed potatoes have been shipped to non-EU countries since July.
