John Harris of the British Potato Council claimed that after the initial arrival of the first earlies, prices have been disappointing this season.

Some of the large retailers, he alleged, had continued to sell imports leading to a build up of British supplies and a resultant drop in prices. Currently, there was instances of growers barely, if at all, recouping the cost of production.

Growers under contract had been in a stronger position, added Mr Harris, but he believed the time had come when 'small producers must change their ways and only grow when they have a definite committed outlet for their crop. They can no longer afford to grow in hope of finding a market.' Roy Maynard, Tesco's senior potato buying manager strongly defended his store's position. 'If other supermarkets want to be buying in imported that is their policy but we have stuck to what we promised and have been, are and will continue to be strong supporters of British.

'This year, in earlies, we have taken less imported gear than ever before and have been very happy with the supplies from our British growers.'

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