It seems retailers are still giving preference to foreign cold-storage potatoes (mainly from France) even though domestic new potatoes are available. A producer and trader confirmed this and also confirmed the falling prices during week 21.
"Consumption, sales and prices are bad. I noticed that 80% of potatoes sold come from cold-storage units, mainly in France. In the south, the heart of new potato production, many stores are still selling old tubers."
Volumes are in line with previous years and the campaign started 15 days later than last year. "At the moment, new potato prices should be higher than those of cold-storage potatoes but they're not."
"The quality of French cold-storage potatoes is good, while last year, when it wasn't, stores preferred new potatoes from Sicily and Puglia. What I don't understand is why stores prefer paying more for the French produce than choosing domestic produce? Is it because of supply agreements? I could understand it one month ago, as new potatoes cost double, but I truly don't understand it now."
"The quality of French cold-storage potatoes is good, while last year, when it wasn't, stores preferred new potatoes from Sicily and Puglia. What I don't understand is why stores prefer paying more for the French produce than choosing domestic produce? Is it because of supply agreements? I could understand it one month ago, as new potatoes cost double, but I truly don't understand it now."