Tuesday, 12 September 2023 13:55

No shortage of spuds in NZ - Olsen

Written by  Peter Burke
Potatoes NZ chair Paul Olsen has dismissed claims that there is a shortage of potatoes in the country. Potatoes NZ chair Paul Olsen has dismissed claims that there is a shortage of potatoes in the country.

The newly elected chair of Potatoes NZ has dismissed claims that there is a shortage of potatoes in the country.

Paul Olsen says assertions about a shortage of potatoes are wrong. He says there is no shortage and there is unlikely to be a shortage this year.

He admits it’s been a challenging year with supply – given the crop losses in one of the major potato growing areas, Pukekohe.

But Olsen says, on average, it’s been a great year for potato growers in Canterbury and the yields could well make up for any losses in the north.

“The one thing that has happened is the challenges faced by the distribution network, especially with the Cook Strait ferries being out of service for significant periods of time,” he told Rural News.

“Because of this and other factors, people may not get the exact choice of potato they like – but there is no shortage.”

Olsen concedes that potatoes are becoming more expensive. However, that simply reflects the additional costs of growing and distributing them.

He adds that everything - from labour, fuel, fertiliser and road user charges - has gone up and these costs are being reflected in the price to consumers.

Another issue has been that with roads blocked or damaged in many areas, trucks carrying potatoes have had to resort to using less direct and lengthy routes, which has added to the cost. Producers of other primary products have also been hit in this way.

However, according to Olsen – who grows potatoes in the Horowhenua – the good news is that the early spuds are now in the ground and new potatoes will be on the menu for Christmas dinner.

More like this

Getting better connected

New chair of Potatoes NZ (PNZ), Paul Olsen, wants the organisation to connect and engage better with its levy paying members.

Growing spuds, milking cows - all about diversity

The Olsen family have been involved in diversification for generations in the farming settlement of Opiki in the Horowhenua between Levin and Palmerston North. They have always had a dairy farm and grown potatoes.

Featured

Editorial: NZ's great China move

OPINION: The New Zealand red meat sector, with support from the Government, has upped the ante to retain and expand its niche in the valuable Chinese market - and the signs are looking positive.

Wool-derived protein eyes $2b market

Keratin extracted from New Zealand wool could soon find its way into products used to minimise osteoporosis, promote gut health, and other anti-inflammatories, says Keraplast chief executive Howard Moore.

Strong uptake of good wintering practices

DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

National

Positive vibes from China

Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton says his recent visit to China has left him feeling optimistic about the…

Returns 'not good enough'

Fonterra leaders are making their case for offloading the co-operative's $3 billion consumer business, noting that its return on capital…

Record milk price!

A record farmgate milk price for Fonterra shareholders is all but confirmed for this season.

Machinery & Products

An ideal solution for larger farms

Designed specifically for large farms that want to drill with maximum flexibility, efficiency and power, the new Lemken Solitair ST…

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter