The President of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Joe Healy, has warned against the discounting of potatoes by some retailers on the run up to Christmas. Healy explained that some promotional activity can have a bad effect on what is already a fragile market.
He has issued a warning yesterday to advise retailers that the IFA would hold them directly responsible for any negative consequences for potato growers.
According to Joe Healy, IFA President, “Christmas should be a time when potato growers benefit from the seasonal demand for potatoes”. He questioned the reasoning for promoting the vegetable at a time of year when consumption was at its peak. With potato production levels in Ireland and across Europe at very low levels this year, Joe Healy said that it was unacceptable to be discounting product when the market was in balance.
He also pointed out that potatoes must be sold as a premium product, in a way that is fair and favourable to Irish potato growers.
He added, “This again illustrates the scant disregard which some retailers have for the primary producer of Quality Assured Irish grown product. Their sole aim is to drive footfall with no appreciation of the impact which these retail practices have further down the supply chain.”
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern
