The potato market is going well at the moment, with no overlaps and good prices. Borsa Patate di Bologna set quotations at €1.50-2.00-2.50/kg for category I and €0.70-0.72/kg DAT for cardboard crates.
This price will precede the weekly campaign by a few days and remain valid between price settings, until the consignment stock price is established on 15th September 2018.
"We aim at replicating the previous year, which was excellent, thanks to this important tool that links producers and traders," explains Luciano Trentini, coordinator of Borsa Patate.
"The unstable market, generated by weather conditions such as frost during sowing in the south and pre-harvesting drought in the north, had us worried about this season. However, the great capabilities of the production world (united under Agripat) and the efficiency of traders (represented by Fruitimprese and Apofruit/Patfruit cooperatives) led to constant growth with excellent commercial results. Settlements were therefore above cultivation costs and higher than the average of other areas."
In Emilia-Romagna, the system centres around a Framework Agreement gathering around 2,500 hectares of mainly Primura, Colomba and Agata potatoes (approx. 60% of the total) producing over 120 thousand tons destined to the fresh produce market. This high concentration of few varieties enables operators to supply consumers with high homogeneity and continuity.
Weather in the spring had affected sowing, which was delayed by 20 days, shortening the cycle by 2-3 weeks. This in turn led to a 10% drop in production and smaller tubers. Nonetheless, quality is very good and so is shelf-life.
National and European data confirm the drop in production despite the stable number of crops.
New potatoes are going well and there seem to be no overlaps for the produce from Sicily, Puglia and Naples.
Contacts
CePa
Via Tosarelli 155
Villanova di Castenaso (BO)
Web: www.ce-pa.it