Bram Werkman of Landjuweel: 'Exciting and beautiful potato season at the same time'

The potato market is experiencing a stressful time. Prices are sky-high and because of that trading at Goes and Emmeloord closed the week with a price of 26 and 28 euro for export potatoes. "Of course they are very good prices, but the market appears to be stabilising somewhat at the moment"Bram Werkman of Landjuweel mentions.

"The advantage of high prices is that one can lower these somewhat."

The market mainly works on export. Especially to Russia is good, also Eastern European countries, such as Poland and the Czech Republic are doing well. But also the local sales are O.K. Demand is sufficient"the potato trader continues. "The stock of potatoes for processing potatoes is limited. This is what we see all the time."

All in all we have harvested a reasonable crop. The potatoes are a little smaller and less potatoes for chips are available. The big question is whether we will have good quality potatoes left at the end of the season"Bram says. "Here in the north and in the polders Phytophtora-pressure has really made an impression locally. Some younger growers had not experienced this before."

"For the free farmers this may become a very good year, but the contract growers, who did not harvest too many kilograms, this could just as well be an average year.

It is not a time for feasting everywhere"Bram concludes. "All in all an exiting, but also a beautiful season, because it is the very best when the whole potato chain will earn something from our spuds."