Ballarat Potato growers already struck new McCain price deal

Ballarat district potato growers have struck a new price deal with McCain Foods, months ahead of schedule.

The growers will be paid an increase of $15 a tonne of potatoes for next year's crop.

Earlier this year, growers blockaded the McCain factory after negotiations over the current year's potato price failed.

Ross Dimond from the McCain Growers Group says farmers are pleased to finally get an increased price for their crop.

"It must be realised that the price we got at the end of the blockade virtually brought our price ... up to the price of the previous year,"he said.

"But yes that's right, I think it's a realistic outcome by McCain that they have to pay farmers enough to stay in business."