NEW ZEALAND Fans of the humble potato beware – theres a major shortage in New Zealand and its big enough that its forced chip producers to temporarily stop production in the countdown to Christmas. Demand for spuds is up and supply is down thanks to poor growing and harvesting conditions. Barat Jivans been growing spuds in Franklin District for 30 years. Hes busier than ever, working around the clock to get new season potatoes to market. We were out there in the rain trying to get the potatoes out because demand from the market to supply is immense, he says. There is immense pressure because some potato crops are down by up to 40 percent. In my growing experience I havent seen a situation like we are at the moment. Its too wet for growing and harvesting in the North Island, while its too dry and windy in Canterbury. The potatoes we were going to harvest from the early season are not available and the new seasons not online yet, so there is a gap, Potatoes New Zealand chief executive Champak Mehta.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 20:23:26 +0000
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