At the start of April PCA members showed in a questionnaire what potato area and what variety they will grow next season. Not all growers knew their definite area at that time. But these figures give a careful first estimate of the 2015 potato area.
Première main variety
On the 1st of April only 20% of the area of early potatoes in the questionnaire had been planted. The area of early potatoes was set to increase by 7% in the questionnaire. But this has to be interpreted with the necessary caution, as the questionnaire only reaches a limited share of the area of early potatoes. Première remains the main variety, but we are seeing this share decrease year by year. In second place is Amora, which has continued to increase in area in recent years (29%). They are followed by Anosta, Frieslander and Sinora.
Bintje decreases by 12%
The total area of storage potatoes in Flanders was set to decrease by just under 2% compared to 2014, according to the questionnaire. The area of Bintje decreased by 12% among the growers asked. The number of contracts is 41% in the questionnaire. These are also provisional numbers as a number of growers still said that not all contract agreements were settled. In contrast to the area on Bintje, the 'other chip varieties' did have an increase in area (+2.4%). 62% of the area of other chip varieties were to be grown under contract. 17% more Fontane was to be planted this year. The variety now takes up 58% of the area of 'other chip varieties'.
Area of Markies increases
Innovator and Markies continue to hold second and third place. Just like last year the area of Markies increased, whereas Innovator continues to decline among Flemish growers. Felsina also remains an important variety in Flanders. The area of Challenger within the questionnaire remains around the same.
Source: PCA