'Good news for consumers' as potato prices plummet

Potato prices have plummeted to between R3.50 and R4 per kilo, less than half of what they were a year ago - leaving farmers grappling with steep financial losses while consumers enjoy bargain prices. 

The collapse comes on the back of a bumper harvest, expanded plantings, improved weather and growing conditions across the country.

Food Lover’s Market buyer Paul Rauch says, "This is good and bad news at the same time... the deflation of the product impacts on sales compared to last year, but for the consumer, it's wonderful."

"It's been a perfect crop this year, no diseases, plenty of rain, the yields were massive, and the exports are far less so everything is in the consumers favour and it's not going to change for a while."

"We've been selling some for R30 a pocket, we haven't heard of that in a while."

To listen to Food Lover’s Market buyer Paul Rauch in conversation with Lester Kiewit on CapeTalk's Breakfast show, click on the audio below: