The Department of Agriculture said this year’s wet weather conditions and the consequent high incidence of blight, compounded by the inability to spray during wet weather, greatly affected potato yield which forced prices upwards. “Conversely, prices were relatively low last year due to a bumper crop,” a spokesman said.
The price of potatoes soared 177 per cent between August 2011 and August 2012, according to new figures released by the CSO.
Meanwhile, the United Nations said global food prices rose 7.7 per cent in the past three months as drought and heat waves wilted US and European wheat, corn and soybeans.
Source: Fresh Plaza – Price of potatoes soared 177% over 12 months
