Fears grow of ‘potatogeddon’ after up to 30% of the crop are hit by heavy rains blamed on climate changeA year of heavy rains has devastated New Zealand’s potato crop, causing a shortage of crisps – aka chips – that has been dubbed the “chipocalypse”. Yes, there's a potato shortage. “The grower community is highlighting a potential future potato shortage due to bad weather,” said Antoinette Laird, head of external relations for Foodstuffs. He said the heavy rains meant his business would run at a loss this year, with about a third of his potato crop destroyed. The vegetable was quickly adopted as a staple part of the local diet because it could be grown in much colder areas than kumara, which was already a staple food in New Zealand.

Source: The Guardian October 16, 2017 02:48 UTC