North Yorkshire potato shortages due to heatwave

Extreme heat and a lack of rain has meant crops are dying, and the quality of spuds is being impacted.

Of the crop that has survived, a lack of water has reduced the size of potatoes and caused black marks to appear on their skin.

John Bannister, director at potato producers B & F Potatoes Ltd, based in Butterwick, said their yield is down five tons to the acre.

“It’s not easy this year-round,” he said.

Despite quality slipping Mr Bannister said customers have thankfully stuck by the business during this hard time, but it hasn't been easy.

“Most (customers) are understanding, but, at the end of the day, it's not easy when the quality isn’t there,” he said. 

To combat this dry weather some potato suppliers have tried using irrigation systems to water the crops.

This, however, has also proven to be unsuccessful.

Mike Dangerfield, commercial director at R S Cockerill (The Potato People) potato farm, based in Dunnington, said that water sources have started to dry up over the past few weeks due to the lack of rain, so are no longer widely available.

But, even when the systems were in use, they did not solve the problem.

Mr Dangerfield explained that the crop would die then regrow when the water was sprayed on, which majorly impacted quality.

He said the only way out of this problem is through a drop in temperatures and steady rain over the coming weeks.

“We are at the tipping point. Crops are dying.”  

Mr Dangerfield added that the problem has come at a time where rising production costs are already pushing prices up for customers.

At present he could not confirm how much the further increase would be, but said it's unavoidable. 

Chip shops across North Yorkshire are feeling the knock on impacts as the quality of potatoes has dropped

Local chip shops have faced the knock-on impacts of this problem, which has come as the latest blow during the cost-of-living crisis.

Fryer at Potter Hill Fish and Chip Shop, in Pickering, Conner Roulston, said: “The new potatoes from harvest are usually brilliant.

“Normally they’re good for a month, but now they’re good for a week.”

One of the shop’s owners, Janice Rowlston, said half of the bags of potatoes are currently being wasted due to the amount of black marks on the skin that have to be cut off.

To combat this more potatoes have to be ordered so there’re enough to operate.

Ms Rowlston said: “We pay premium prices, but the products aren’t premium.

“That’s not the farmers’ fault, we’re all in the same boat.”

She went on to explain how costs are up across the board, with the price of fish increasing 100% from last year.

The shop previously used a Russian trawler for their fish but switched to a Norwegian supplier following the war in Ukraine, who Ms Rowlston say are pushing prices up across the market.

Similar problems have been felt at Peasey Hill fish and chips in Malton.

Director, Carlos Santos, said that the quality of the potatoes has been down, and prices are continuing to rise.

Last week he said the price of a bag of potatoes rose from £5.50 to £8.

Like Potter Hill Fish and Chip Shop, Mr Santos said this wasn’t the only product that had risen.

“Everything’s doubled,” he said.

“Fish prices were £120, now they’re £200.”

Problems have also come as customers continue to feel the economic squeeze.

Mr Santos said: “People who used to have three portions of chips, now have two.

“They can only afford small portions."

He added that despite these rising costs, customers are continuing to return as fish and chips remains to be an affordable meal.