"If you stay afloat, you're good at what you do"

"Worrying", is how Henk van den Berg describes the current potato market. He is from Kranenburg, a potato wholesaler based in from the Dutch town of Nieuw-Vennep. "Here and there, local potatoes are still being eaten. The supermarkets are now switching to imported potatoes. May I add that this is also off to a slow start. I, however, do not see the large supply of old local potatoes being used up."

"You would expect that, with these prices, potatoes would sell quickly. This is far from the truth. We are being offered the nicest French potatoes for EUR0,04 or EUR0,05. Yet, it still difficult to get rid of them", continues Henk. "I am afraid this is fast becoming a year to forget. If you can make it through this year, you are a good businessman."

This potato trader also says the new season's prospects are far from good. "I know that the plants still all need to grow. But countries like France have planted even more potatoes than last year. If there are no disasters in other potato-producing countries, the Netherlands is going to have another awful year. Just as it is about time for everyone in the potato business to have a few good years."

"The reality is that things are becoming increasingly difficult. Potato farming is improving in the former East Bloc countries. This is supported by EU subsidies and Dutch knowledge. Poland has gone from being a potato importer to being an exporter. The price tag for growing potatoes there is so different, there is no point in competing. And that is actually quite alarming", Henk concludes.