Low Potato Yields expected in Switzerland

The extreme weather in Switzerland will affect the upcoming potato harvest. Tubers are small, so the supply is expected to be tight.

The Swiss potato association Swisspatat reports a sale-able potato yield of 26.9 ton/ha This is close to the all time low of 26.2 ton/ha in 2003. Yield is 25% below the five-year average. In general, quality of the potatoes is good.

The low yield is the result of the weather: while in the Spring the potatoes were smothered in the wet soil, growth in the Summer was slow as a result of the extreme drought.

In Switzerland, potatoes were cultivated this year on a total of 10981 hectares This is 350 ha less than last year.