Potato Shortage in South Africa Following Severe Weather

South Africa is currently facing a significant potato shortage, attributed to the recent severe weather conditions, particularly black frost, which has adversely affected crop yields.

M&R Marketing, a fresh produce distributor based in Epping, has issued a notice alerting consumers to the impending shortage. The extreme cold weather has caused considerable damage to the potato crops, leading to increased prices for both fresh potatoes and frozen chips.

Mohammed Adam, a buyer at M&R Marketing, indicated that the price for a 10-kilogram bag of potatoes may rise to between R180 and R200. He noted that the potato supply has been impacted across the region and that prices are expected to increase until the end of September.

The agricultural body TLU SA has reported that potato production, particularly in Limpopo, has been severely affected. Henk van de Graaf, the outgoing Chairman of TLU SA Limpopo, highlighted that the region experienced unprecedented levels of black frost during the first week of July, which is believed to be the worst in four decades.

Farmers have been forced to harvest their crops prematurely as a consequence of this extreme weather, resulting in a scarcity of large potatoes on the market. Consumers can expect to find mostly medium and small potatoes available for purchase.

While some farmers managed to mitigate the effects of the frost, the overall yield remains lower than usual. Van de Graaf cautioned consumers to prepare for higher prices due to the anticipated reduction in potato supply.