This is an exceptional year for the potato market. The heat wave in Europe has had a big impact on yields. According to Francisco Moya of Négonor, the deficit in the European market is felt directly in France.
"In particular processors have a deficit of products, including the products they have planned in contractualization. This impacts the fresh market, as today manufacturers come to source varieties that were not intended for the processing market at the start. It disrupts the French market."
Francisco Moya
Accessible product
"Although the overall production deficit is undeniable, we have to qualify things well. The deficit influences prices, but the potato is still an accessible product for the consumer."
A segmented market
"The French offer is very diverse in terms of varieties and region origins. The most impacted region is northern France, where large quantities haven’t been irrigated. In Champagne, Beauce and Picardy, more fields were irrigated, and heat had a smaller impact on most of our contracts for fresh produce from these regions."
Négonor mainly works in the French retail market. 20% of its quantities are exported to one twentieth of European countries. The main destinations are the countries of Central Europe, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece.
Onions suffered from heat as well
The heat had an impact on the onion harvest as well. "Available amounts are below the usual average. This will undoubtedly have an impact on the market."
Négonor is part of the Vitalis network. Member companies package and market approximately 210,000 tons of potatoes, and 25,000 tons of onions and condiments per year.
For more information:
Négonor
Rue Léonard de Vinci - Zi des petits Pacaux
59660 Merville
France
+33 (0)3 28 42 01 02
francisco.moya@negonor.com
www.negonor.com