28th September 2026
The second item listed in the Conversation as one of five foods that are going to cost more this winter as a result of extreme weather events, global conflict etc, as potatoes. Potatoes as a crop need a lot of water – which is perhaps why they became a staple food crop in Ireland with its typically heavier rainfall. Whilst low rainfall over the last few years has caused an increase in prices, this summer’s drought will be impactful. And as the drought has been Europe wide, it will not be easy to import potatoes to make up this year low yield. Potatoes also need fertile soils. For none-organic farmers, this year’s increased cost of fertilisers, will also be pushing up prices to the consumer.
However potato is one of the foods most frequently thrown away as waste. This might be because potatoes have typically been a cheap food. If too much is cooked for a meal, it easy to throw away. If a plate is overfull, we probably eat the more interesting foods and leave the potato. And if we don’t store the potatoes well, they can start sprouting or go mouldy. This issue maybe accentuated if we end up buying a larger bag than we need – either because the larger bag is better value or because there are small bags or no option to buy loose potatoes.
It maybe that the increasing cost of potatoes will encourage us to value them more. We can:
- learn how to store them: https://www.eufic.org/en/food-safety/article/how-to-store-potatoes-correctly-to-minimise-sprouting-and-extend-their-shelf-life#
- learn how to reuse left overs: https://lovepotatoes.co.uk/ways-to-use-leftover-potatoes/
- learn how to make them into more glamorous dishes: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jan/27/observer-food-monthly-20-best-potato-recipes?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other and there are plenty of vegan variations too, eg https://www.sweeterthanoats.com/75-potato-dishes/
