Price Of Chips Could Rocket This Winter Due To Potato Shortage

A potato shortage is threatening to ruin your winter and the expression, 'cheap as chips'.

The cold snap known as the 'Beast from the East' earlier this year, followed by a long hot summer, has ravaged crops, resulting in a price hike.

It is feared the shortage could be so damaging that many chippies may have to close.

According to the Mail Online, Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), said: "It's been the perfect storm - the worst conditions for the crops.

"For a lot of shops it's going to be very difficult. It means prices will have to increase. We are not doing it for profit, we are just trying to survive."

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In the space of a year, the price of a sack of potatoes has doubled. A 25kg sack cost £6 ($8) last year - now the price is at £12 ($16) and there are concerns the price could continue to rise to as much as £20 ($26). The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that harsh weather conditions in Europe have also damaged potato crops, meaning buyers are unable to make savings by importing spuds.

To pile on yet more misery for chippies, there is also a shortage of cod and haddock due to warmer sea temperatures, which has in turn resulted in a price hike.

According to the NFFF, Britain puts away 167 million portions of the stuff every year. But don't be surprised this winter, on a bleak Friday night at the chippie, if your portion is smaller or your pocket is emptier than usual.

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Still, you could hear this news and cry salty tears as you wallow in the prospect of having less pounds or chips, or you could just be grateful for the fact potatoes are still a part of your life, like Dr Rob Clayton, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board's strategy director for potatoes.

According to the Manchester Evening News, he said: "The season started with sub-zero temperatures brought by the Beast from the East, followed by a wet spring that delayed planting. Since then, we've seen one of the driest combined June and July periods on record, so most growers are reporting that yields will be down.

"Farmers have been working round the clock to minimise this, with teams working overnight so that any water used does not evaporate in the hot sun.

"The good news for consumers is, thanks to the tireless efforts of growers, they will be able to enjoy potatoes and potato products over the coming year.

"What we are likely to see are smaller potatoes, but levels of vitamins and fibre will be unaffected and potatoes will remain a great value food."

So there you go. When you tuck into that delicious, hot, expensive chip, don't think about the price or the fact it has been deep fried. Think about the endeavours of the potato farmers and all those scrumptious vitamins and fibres.

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

Topics: Chips, Food, fish and chips, UK News

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey