First new potatoes have appeared on the market in the city of Haerbin, in the Heilongjiang province. Potato farms cover an estimated 20,000 hectares in the province, a decrease of almost 40% compared to last year.
As a result, wholesale and retail prices have increased. Potato retail prices hover around 2.0 Yuan per kg, whereas last year prices reached 1.6 Yuan per kg.
Hulan and Bayan are important potato growing counties near Haerbin. Chengwei Yu, one of the main potato farmers in Hulan, has a potato farm of 700 hectares.
This season Chengwei Yu expanded his potato farm by 65 hectares as prices for potatoes were higher than other vegetables. He estimates this year's harvest to reach 30,0000 tons. Net profit in the region also increased from 9,000 Yuan per hectare to 30,000 Chinese Yuan.