COVID-19

The growing acreage of starch potatoes, especially outside the Netherlands, led to pressure on prices for native starch this year. Rising costs due to the corona crisis also depressed the performance price.

Seed Potato company HZPC realized that the financial year 2020/2021 would be difficult. Last year, the potato distributor was operating in a global economic recession.

¿Por qué importar patatas cuando están disponibles en el país? En los Países Bajos, la disponibilidad de patatas se amplía continuamente, gracias al desarrollo de variedades y a la mejora de los métodos de almacenamiento.

As plantings for the 2021 potato crop in North-western Europe is wrapping up, it seems very probable that total potato area within the NEPG zone (EU-04) will be reduced by 3 to 5 percent.

Royal Cosun (parent of potato processor Aviko) closed 2020 with a slightly higher group result than in 2019. Aviko had an exceptionally turbulent year. Lockdowns exerted pressure on Aviko’s turnover in the foodservice channel, whereas other business groups benefited directly or indirectly from higher sales in the retail channel.

Until December 31, 2020 the North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG) was a 5 country organization, but the organization started 2021 without the British AHDB. Also, Victor Pfaff stepped down as NEPG secretary and is replaced by Daniel Ryckmans.

Potato coop Agrico held its annual central general members' meeting last week. During this online meeting, the annual figures for 2019/2020 were discussed and Agrico's digital transformation was addressed.

NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers) is unsure of the current potato situation and does not expect major changes in the demand side of the market in the coming weeks.

In financial year 2019/2020 Dutch Potato Starch Producer Royal Avebe achieved a performance price of 96.15 euros. This is a fraction below the record result - 96.63 euros - of the previous financial year.

The corona crisis dealt a blow to the fries processing industry and that in turn had consequences for the growers who supply the industry.

The annual Potato Days in Joure are a valued networking event attracting hundreds of growers and customers from many countries.

Public appreciation of the food and agriculture sector is greater in 2020 than it was two years ago. This applies to all sub-sectors, apart from pig farming, which is held in the same esteem as it was in 2018.

The 2019/2020 financial year has been eventful in many respects for seed potato supplier HZPC. Despite the consequences of COVID-19, the company has had an operationally successful season. The coming season, however, may well be more of a challenge.

The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimates that the area for consumption potatoes in North-Western Europe increased with 0,5% compared with last year and is estimated at 621,148 hectares.

Dutch Potato Starch Manufacturer Avebe recently announced the final campaign price of 76.50 euros per ton of potatoes to its members.