Germany: Potato storage has slow start

According to the recent newsletter the prices for producers remained at the same level as last week. The prices will most likely decrease in the coming weeks. Sales to food retailers by packaging companies is at a normal level for this time of the year. The goods are available in bags of 10 and 12.5 kg. The commercial storage of potatoes is planned for the end of September. Several individual farmers have already started with the storage. However the high temperatures have postponed the storage in many places. At the moment the harvest conditions are excellent. The yield thus far fluctuated greatly; different soil types, the grown varieties and irrigation possibilities are responsible for the fluctuations. Overall an average harvest is expected. The circumstances for peeled potatoes and other processed products remain mostly unchanged. The sales of peeled potatoes increased at the beginning of the school season. And as always the demand is high in restaurants in the popular tourist places.

The first farmers started with the storage of potatoes while the harvest conditions were good. However the potatoes are mostly harvested to demand. In many places the storages will start in a week or two. The sales of the packaging plant in unsatisfactory. Sales actions related to the storing of the potatoes might spice up the market somewhat. The prices for the producers just remained on the same level as last weeks. For the next few weeks a decrease in the price of 1 or 2 Euro is expected. However the expectations are that the decrease won’t be as sharp as last years’.

So far the reports show an average yield and good quality and size. The yield of the late varieties in light soil will probably be lower due to the drought. The prices of the peeled and processed potatoes will remain stable.

The customers demand for potatoes are low due to the high temperatures, and thus cause low sales for the packers. In the coming weeks the usual special offers in the food retail will increase the customers’ demand. The harvest of potatoes for storing and the storage of the potatoes are delayed due to the heat. The prices for farmers will decrease in the next few weeks by 1 or 2 Euro. The end of the holiday season clearly improved the turnover of peeled and processed potatoes. With prices between 12 and 14 Euro the prices of the peeled and processed potatoes remain stable. 

The main harvest started later than usual this year. Many commercial storage owners delayed the storage of potatoes, due to the hot weather. The potatoes are mostly harvested to demand. The harvest conditions are good, however a bit more rain wouldn’t go amiss. The sales of potatoes is still unsatisfactory. In the summer the consumers demand for potatoes is low. The prices for the producers went down a little compared to the previous weeks. The prices of the peeled and processed potatoes are stable. And as usual their sales have increased after the start of a new school term.

The prices for the producers went down by 1.50 to 2 Euro compared to the previous weeks. The packagers are dissatisfied with the turnover. The usual special actions of the season will start. The potato harvest in this region starts slowly. It is still too hot for the storage. The quality of the potatoes is mostly good. The yield strongly fluctuates, and the size of the potatoes vary. The prices of the peeled and processed potatoes are stable.