Expert urges households to buy winter potatoes in October

Expert urges households to buy winter potatoes in October AI

Tetiana Oliinyk, deputy director for research at the Institute of Potato Growing (NAAS), says Ukrainians who can store potatoes should make winter reserves — but wait until October when late, dried tubers reach the market. She does not expect a physical shortage, though winter prices may rise. Good, practical timing advice for Kyiv shoppers: delay purchases until October to avoid the first autumn price spike and buy potatoes you can store safely.

Tetiana Oliinyk, a candidate of agricultural sciences and deputy director for research at the Institute of Potato Growing of NAAS, told Glavcom that Ukrainians with proper storage can and should consider stocking potatoes for winter. She warned, however, that consumers should not rush to buy now.

Oliinyk said the best moment to purchase is October, after the first wave of autumn price increases has passed and the main volume of late, dried potatoes reaches the market. She does not foresee a physical shortage of potatoes this year, noting that private household production and imports cover much of domestic demand. Still, she expects potato prices to rise further over the winter and earlier estimated that autumn procurement prices could increase by roughly 25–30% after early varieties are sold off.

Readers may want to plan storage space and watch local markets in October for better prices and supply.

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