The lockdown in Italy has ensured that potato sales got off the ground. The consortium of the Patata di Bologna potato recorded an increase of 33% for that potato in question compared to previous years. This was announced by Chairman Davide Martelli during a press conference for the presentation of the Qualipat project, which heralds a new promotional campaign.
“The average growth of the total potato sales was 6.3% and within this sector our potatoes with Protected Designation of Origin recorded an increase of 33%. This is to the credit of only one variety of exceptional quality, the Primura ”, emphasized Martelli. About the Qualitat project, manager Andrea Galli said the following: “In three years, we will invest three million euros for commercials on TV, radio and social media. We took part in a European tender, which finances 70% of the expenditure. The slogan of the commercial is Molto più che buona (More than good). ”
The harvest was affected by the drought in the spring. The danger of click beetles is always lurking, but because Primura is an early breed, the attacks of the larvae can be partially avoided. The consortium has 90 companies and 9 packaging facilities and 12,000 tons of potatoes are sold annually. Each packaging has a QR code, which provides the consumer with insight into traceability.
The Patata di Bologna belongs to the top of the potato sector in terms of price and quality. The average selling price is between € 1.30 and € 1.70 per kilo, indicating that the consortium has no control over the prices, as they are determined by the final retailer. “The growers received about € 0.30 per kilo last season. Prices seem lower this year, but they should still be satisfactory, ”Galli said.
“The packers who are part of the consortium often pay only a few cents more for a crop with a Protected Designation of Origin and they are aware of the fact that the yield per hectare is lower than that of the regular potatoes. We conclude framework contracts, which also include potatoes that do not have the PDO designation. That contract usually indicates the basis from which the pricing for PDO potatoes starts. ”
A total of 357 hectares were planted in the 2019-2020 season and an additional 419 hectares is expected for the 2020-2021 season. If we compare this with the figures from 10 years ago, the acreage for the Patata di Bologna will have increased by 36.3% in 2021.
The Patata di Bologna is mainly sold through the retail trade (95%), which means that the potatoes can be obtained from the main supermarket chains. In some cases there is co-branding packaging where the mention ‘Patata di Bologna’ is clearly visible through the logo of the consortium and the BOB stamp.
