During the next two weeks HZPC will be meeting with seed potato growers. The company will announce a forecast price for seed potatoes crop 2009 of € 20.50 per 100 kg, excl. VAT. This price is for the class E, the size 28/55 mm for varieties grown in the pool and it includes breeders fees.
 

This forecast price is considerably lower than the prices attained the last few years. It is true that the price level in the market is lower, but especially the high yields per hectare tend to have a great influence. The financial yield of the pool has to be distributed over many more kilograms.

Last summer the growing conditions were very nearly ideal. A consequence of this was a record yield per hectare and a low percentage in oversize potatoes. The total volume of potatoes available in the seed potato size categories was 20% lower than average. Because of this, the result of the decrease of the price is partly compensated.

The demand for seed in several countries outside of Europe was good. The sales to countries in Africa and Asia are more than 20% higher than the sales attained last year. On the other hand, the market in Southern Europe is very moderate. As a consequence of the low prices for table potatoes, the purchasing power of the growers decreased markedly. Because of the bad whether conditions, a part of the acreage was not planted. It remains to be seen whether this part of the market will recover somewhat.

Just like last year, the varieties Spunta and Desiree are not included in the system that HZPC uses to calculate the forecast price. The demand for Spunta was once again very favourable. The growers' price is higher than average.  On the other hand the price level of the variety Desiree is very moderate.

At the end of June HZPC will announce a  definitive grower's price for crop 2009.