The potato yields in the Netherlands are diverse at the moment."There are very good parcels and very bad ones. Therefore it is difficult to establish the amount of potatoes still to be harvested. The harvest prognoses fluctuate quite a bit and that is the same in the countries around us. There is absolutely no logic in this. Therefore there is some uncertainty in the market"Bram Werkman of Landjuweel, NL observes.
"The supply of dry, healthy potatoes is not very large. There are not many potatoes in stock. There is also the question of the further development of the potato disease Phytoftora. The weather of the coming weeks is also of great importance. The best areas are harvested first, but we do not know what will come after. Much rain fell in certain areas and has caused a lot of damage in places. Therefore it is terribly difficult to draw conclusions"the potato dealer says.
"The supply of dry, healthy potatoes is not very large. There are not many potatoes in stock. There is also the question of the further development of the potato disease Phytoftora. The weather of the coming weeks is also of great importance. The best areas are harvested first, but we do not know what will come after. Much rain fell in certain areas and has caused a lot of damage in places. Therefore it is terribly difficult to draw conclusions"the potato dealer says.
After a long hot summer, which started early, a bad patch followed. "Nevertheless this is better weather for the potato consumption. At the moment the supply to the local market is doing well and exporters have sufficient employ also"Bram continues. "There are already enquiries for potatoes in small packings from Russia and Poland. The weather has been very dry in Russia with temperatures of 40C. You do not have to be an expert to know, that potatoes will not grow well under these conditions!"
Prices have been reasonably constant during the last three weeks. "Growers with normal yields can make good money to-day. And this is important, because it has been rather different as well in the past. These growers put a lot of effort in it, especially in the early cultivation. And then it is good to see, that there is a proper reward"Bram concludes. "And it is good that there are no prices below 0,40 euro/kg in the shops this season. That is good for the entire chain!"
