"Fewer potatoes expected from Malta"
The first potatoes from Malta have arrived once again at Aardappelhandel Altena. "The first shipment was slightly delayed due to the rain, but the supply is now getting going. At the moment it is mainly potatoes of the variety Santé, but the first Alphas will arrive next week," says Kees Schouten.
"The general expectation is that there will be considerably fewer early potatoes from Malta. The price difference between the old Dutch harvest and the new potatoes is quite big, but I still expect the prices of the premier potatoes to remain bought for a while and not immediately tank. In nice weather in particular many people are keen to eat a new potato."
Altena has been working with the Maltese potato company Quality Fruit & Vegetables, controlled by Raphael Scerri, for years. The Maltese potatoes are laid out in rows with a harvester and shipped in crates of 25kg to the sorting and packaging stations. The Maltese potato season traditionally runs until June.
Altena mainly seeks the new potatoes from suppliers of supermarkets and fellow potato traders who supply the market sellers, among others. "We are already receiving plenty of calls asking whether there is enough supply yet, so people are ready," concludes Kees.
For more information:
Kees Schouten
Aardappelhandel Altena
Veensesteeg 15
4264 KG Veen
Tel: +31 (0) 416 392 565
Mobiel: +31 (0) 653 127 488
kees@altena-bv.nl
www.altenapotatoes.com