‘Tsunami’ of spuds predicted

A surplus of potatoes in Europe has the industry here worried a ‘‘tsunami’’ of cheap chips could flood the market, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

Potatoes New Zealand wants the Government to put short-term restrictions on imports of heavily discounted frozen chips to avoid a food security threat.

With pubs, cafes and restaurants closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, potato prices have collapsed in major production centres.

Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge said the price of frozen potato chips from the EU — where there is already a surplus of approximately 2.6 million tonnes of chips — would soon go the same way.

‘‘If urgent steps are not put in place to prevent it, New Zealand is likely to be swamped by imports of frozen potato chips at those extraordinary prices,’’ Claridge said. ‘‘That, together with the existing impact of the current pandemic will in turn cause the New Zealand potato growing and processing industries to suffer severe and prolonged damage.’’

That could lead to potato growers planting alternate crops, in turn leading to a shortage of locally-grown potatoes. ‘‘Given New Zealand’s reliance on potatoes as a source of food, that will represent a serious risk to food security.’’

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said he was keeping an eye on the situation.

Potatoes NZ had been engaging with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on a possible response to any flood of European chips, should it happen, he said.

New Zealand growers supply about 85 per cent of the domestic market.