The new potato season started three weeks ago on the Ile de Ré and will continue until the end of June. Harvest looks good this year, with 50 tons per day at the Bois-Plage cooperative. The aim is to increase production as the demand is high.
Ile de Ré potatoes are some of the few to have a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) in France, the variety is only farmed on the island by 20 or so producers.
Sales are good despite the rather high price (between €3-6/kilo). The cooperative have a €2 million annual turnover and their aim is to increase sales. They need to convince farmers to increase acreage, they say 900 hectares could be used for potatoes on the island, yet only 600 hectares are farmed for the time being.