Spud shortage

•  Supermarket shelves have been stripped bare.

By Taylor Clyne
November 23, 2022

POTATO lovers are feeling the pinch with a statewide shortage on the favourite vegetable caused by a less than favourable season.

Supermarket shelves were stripped bare over the weekend, an unusual site in Scottsdale which is known more commonly as the spud capital.

The region is responsible for growing between 60,000 -80,000 tonnes a year and given the late start to planting the supplier shortage could be felt for months to come.

Woolworths Scottsdale said their supplier went completely underwater with all the rain and are still unsure if they will have any stock for Christmas.

IGA’s in Scottsdale, Bridport and Branxholm have been scrounging smaller local growers in the hope to keep up with demand.

The shortage is quickly flowing through to other potato products including chips, hashbrowns, gems and packaged mashed potato with stock all but gone across the country.

Local growers such as Riggall’s, Moores and other roadside stalls have been inundated selling the best of last seasons spuds and hoping to have new spuds in the coming weeks.

Chris Riggall said he used to grow for retailers but now grows just enough for his roadside stall and themselves.

“Maybe 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes are what we do,” he said.

“There are lots of spuds still in the ground that they haven’t been able to get out and they go all glassy which is not good for consumption.

“The weather has been less than ideal this season,” he said.

Lower than projected yields, spuds not keeping as well in storage and a very late start to planting due to excessive wet weather will see many early growers not have potatoes ready for market for at least a few more weeks.

It’s imagined what stock does become available will be jacked up in price and will sell like hot potatoes, literally.