Tenant Fenland farmer who goes by the name Farmer Luke on social media, has decided to donate his potatoes to charities and food banks after his buyer cancelled on collection day, leaving him with 12.5 tonnes of potatoes bagged and ready to go.
This year has been a devastating year says Farmer Luke, as him, nor many other farmers, could have predicted how badly the potato market would fail.
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He says he is trying to stay positive amid the financial strain the poor market is putting on the business, but the pressure is crushing him.
In order to bring some positivity and do something good, Farmer Luke decided to donate his potatoes rather than re-opening every bag (500 of them), re-boxing them to go back into the store hoping for the best or dumping them.
On social media platform X, Farmer Luke posted: "Last week I was happy to finally receive the second trade order this season from my merchant.
"To put it into context, we normally start selling our potatoes around Christmas, and fulfil a weekly order from this point on, moving around 13 tonnes a week.
"So to have waited 5 months to be able to sell any of my potatoes was a huge relief because although we have had so much support from our local customers and now further afield, we are still limited to what I can deliver in my truck and through the post, and this has been putting a huge financial strain on our business.
"Collection day came and the buyer cancelled. So, I am left with 12.5 tonnes of potatoes bagged and ready to go, with no way of selling that volume through my local and postal channels.
"This year has been devastating for me and so many farmers. We plan our crops more than a year in advance and couldn't have predicted how badly the potato market would fail.
"I am trying my best to stay positive and adapt, but the pressure is crushing."
Farmer Luke has already sent two loads of his potatoes to FACT - Community Hub incorporating Community Fridge for the people in March and Manea.
For more information or to receive some of Farmer Lukes potatoes email: [email protected].
The second load of donated potatoes are heading out to help the family's and people of manea there open Wednesday 9:30am-12pm thanks to all the volunteers at FACT - Community Hub incorporating Community Fridge
— Farmer Luke 🥔 (@Ondaintreefarm) April 24, 2026
Email [email protected] if your would like some donating to… pic.twitter.com/xuqLs3Y0e6
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