Italy: Bologna Potato Prices Hold at €0.80–0.95/kg as 2026/27 Reference Price Is Set at €0.50/kg
Wholesale prices for packed potatoes in Emilia-Romagna did not change in late September. A three-year framework contract guarantees growers at least 80% of the seasonal reference price.
Wholesale prices for first-quality potatoes in Emilia-Romagna stayed unchanged in the week to 24 September. This is shown in the weekly price list of the Chamber of Commerce of Bologna. The prices apply to potatoes of 45–75 mm, ex packing warehouse.
- Potatoes in 5–10 kg mesh sacks: €0.80–0.85 per kg.
- Potatoes in 1 kg bags: €0.90–0.95 per kg.
- Potatoes in cases or cartons: €0.90–0.95 per kg.
The session of 17 September gave the same ranges, the chamber said.
Reference price for the new season
The joint commission of the Bologna potato exchange met on 4 September. It set the reference price for the 2026/27 season at €0.50 per kg. The price applies to first-category potatoes of 45–75 mm for the fresh market. The potatoes must have GLOBALG.A.P. or GRASP certification.
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The commission also set prices for packed potatoes. Packs of 1.5–2 kg are priced at €1.15 per kg. Net sacks of 4–5 kg are priced at €0.90 per kg. The commission includes private traders, cooperatives and the producer organisation Agripat.
A floor for growers
A framework contract covers fresh potatoes for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons. The producer organisation published it on 21 September. The minimum payment to the grower is always 80% of the reference price agreed by September, the contract says. With a reference of €0.50, this floor is €0.40 per kg.
In a severe market crisis, a second floor applies. It is €0.30 per kg for the first 300 quintals of certified first-quality potatoes. These potatoes must be delivered on consignment through the producer organisation.
The commission said drought and heat waves hit the main European growing areas in 2026. Stocks in Emilia-Romagna were slightly below the five-year average. Quality stayed good thanks to efficient irrigation, it said.
In the south, growers report smaller crops. A mountain farmers’ association in Calabria expects output to fall by 10–15%, its president told FreshPlaza. He said production costs had risen by 30–40%.
Why it matters
Italy imports potatoes from northern Europe in most seasons. The short crop in France, Germany and Belgium makes these imports more expensive. Stable prices in Bologna show that the domestic market is calm for now.
For growers, the contract floor sets a clear minimum for the new season. But higher costs for diesel, energy and storage reduce the value of higher prices. Buyers should watch the weekly Bologna list for the first signs of change.
Photo: Potato harvest in Trevico, Campania, Italy (illustrative). ALC / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
