Potato prices to rocket after wet summer

The price of chips could be set to soar as farmers say that the wettest summer in a century has led to the lowest potato harvest for 35 years.

A new report has revealed shoppers are facing higher potato prices as suppliers warn of rocketing production costs.

Trade magazine The Grocer said potato suppliers are warning they need better returns if they are to avert a looming financial crisis as a result of this year’s poor harvest.

The Potato Council has reported potato production costs, which were £124 a tonne in November 2011, were estimated to have risen by 61 per cent to £200 a tonne in September this year.

Council chairman Allan Stevenson said the financial pain felt by many potato farmers this season had to be mitigated by price rises at retail.

He said: “A small increase to the shopper could make a big difference to the industry.”

The council said the cost of production had soared dramatically because of higher input costs, such as fuel and fertiliser, coupled with this year’s erratic weather, which has led to stunted growth and higher incidences of blight.