The potato harvest is in full swing and whilst conditions are excellent for working in the fields, farmers have noted a decrease in quantity (about -20%). This decrease is due to the weather over the summer which was too dry for some varieties such as the Bintje, as well as a very cold spring followed by a very hot summer.
The Petite Rosière farm in Ormeignies, in the Ath region, produces about 3,000 tons of potatoes a year. Thierry, the farmer on the Petite Rosière, confirms the 20% decrease, but says that “the quality seems to be very good”. Bintjes will be of a smaller calibre this year, but Thierry says that “to be honest, we should still have a 40 ton per hectare yield, which isn’t bad!”
After harvest the potatoes are stored in a ventilated warehouse for drying. The temperature will decrease progressively until December. Temperatures in the warehouse are currently 15 or 16 degrees. For the time being, potato harvesting is being carried out under very good conditions, “oh yes, no rain, it is ideal ! Anyway, the potatoes cannot be put in the warehouse if they are wet. We do not pick them when it rains!”.
All of Thierry’s production is for the potato industry which will process them into french fries or mashed potato. For the time being, prices are about €10 per 100 kilos, “but if production is low everywhere, there will undoubtedly be an increase in prices. I’d rather pick less, but sell for more. It is the opposite to last year, in fact, when we harvested an enormous amount for ridiculous prices”.
Harvest is in full swing on the next door farm as well, la Grande Rosière, where the boss, Hélène Van Quickelberghe, confirms that the harvest looks good but that they also expect a decrease of “at least 20%” She says that there are “no deformed potatoes” and considering the dryness this year, mildew has not been a problem.