Supermarket shelves across Australia are missing a staple household item amid a nationwide potato shortage brought on by challenging seasonal conditions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Extreme heat and severe frosts in key growing regions are to blame, industry insiders say, with concerns the shortage could contribute to a modest price rise at the supermarket counter.
In some cases, the average cost of a tonne of spuds has trippled in northern Australia as distributors seek to sure-up supplies.
Australia Seed Potato Industry Certificate Authority general manager and principal scientist, Nigel Crump, said the shortage of spuds was being felt in South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
Dr Crump is also a director of Potatoes Australia Limited, the national body representing the spud supply chain.
"It's a pretty unique situation," Dr Crump said.
"Years ago, we did have spud shortages, which drove the prices of potatoes up, but in recent years, there has been a big focus on ensuring we don't go into boom and bust cycles.
"Some people in our industry have never seen the likes of this before."
The spud shortage has pushed the wholesale price of potatoes up considerably, with those rises set to flow through to supermarket shelves until new-season spuds hit the market.
"We've seen prices of $1500 a tonne reported in Atherton in Queensland that is very unusual," Dr Crump said.
"Normally, the price of a tonne of spuds hovers around $400 to $500 a tonne.
"Some of this hot weather was six to 10 months ago, and we are only just realising that impact now."
The shortage of potatoes is not affecting the processing sector, the likes of McCains and crisping and french fry companies, though due to an abundance of material in storage.
Shelves in the country's biggest supermarkets, including Woolworths, have warned of the shortages.
"Due to ongoing adverse weather conditions, the appearance and supply of potatoes has been impacted," a sign witnessed in Woolworths this week read.
"We're working with growers to return to normal supply, and although the appearance may be affected, they still have the same great taste."
Shortage is not due to exotic virus
Dr Crump quelled rumours that the shortage was being driven by biosecurity concerns in Tasmania, after inuendo surfaced this week the mainland had closed its borders to stop the spread of the exotic virus.
In recent weeks, close to 2000 tonnes of Tasmanian-grown potatoes have been destroyed in an attempt to stop the spread.
The disease rots the skin and flesh of potatoes but poses no risks to human health, and will likely never be eradticated, according to Biosecurity Tasmania.
The virus is yet to be found on mainland Australia.
"Ninety per cent of potatoes grown in Tasmania are used to make french fries and are processed in Tasmania," Dr Crump said.
"Historically, very few potatoes have come onto the mainland from Tasmania, so that rumour going around that the shortage is due to a border closure due to the virus is a furphy."
Bryce Eishold
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land. He is ACM's former national machinery and agricultural technology writer. Bryce is also an executive committee member and former president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
