The situation in the potato trade is currently not looking good. “Until last week, the export has been very good and many potatoes have left for export. Now some, mainly African countries, are closing the borders because they have their own product and that is not yet being taken up by other countries”, says Adrie Kleinjan. from Kleinjan’s Potato Trade.
“Everyone has enough of their own product, which, in my view, will end up in a problem market in the coming weeks”, Adrie expects. “In other years, the chip industry always bought free potatoes in the market, but that sales are now missing because of the whole Corona situation. Since there are no replacement markets now, it looks very worrying.”
In addition, there are also many parties with germination problems. With Chlorpropham we have had a remedy for 70 years with a good effect, but that agent is prohibited and other agents do not give the desired result. In addition, many potatoes were harvested in the autumn under wet, warm conditions. Many growers hoped to have the leakage over with the potatoes in the shed, but now they have a big challenge to keep their potatoes germ-free.
“There is a lot of supply of potatoes with germ on them and we can not trade them at the moment. All in all, the potato sector is currently in a very difficult corner. It is impossible to get potatoes to consumers – who are not allowed to eat outside – without them. Germ. Consumers simply do not accept table potatoes with germ on them. We do not know how this will continue, but it looks very worrisome this year. “
“Prices have been under pressure since the summer. And let’s face it, growers want the highest possible price for their product. If they are ready to sell for the market price, there is no sales. All in all a painful situation. I expect that next year there will be a lot less people willing to put potatoes, while we also want to provide the world with potatoes again after Corona. Normally Christmas is always a pleasant time, but in many potato families it is Christmas with the necessary headaches “, Adrie concludes.
