For the 15th International Berlin Potato Evening, the German Potato Trade Association (DKHV) welcomed over 450 guests from 15 countries, as well as more than 190 companies and associations. The Berlin Hilton on the Gendarmenmarkt provided the perfect setting for all the discussions between these industry experts.
During his welcome speech, Thomas Herkenrath (President of the DKHV) was flanked by the two potato queens from Lower Saxony (l) and Bavaria (r).
'Industry needs to be more self-confident'
DKHV President Thomas Herkenrath outlined the many challenges that the potato industry is currently facing. He emphatically spoke against the uncertainty of consumers, caused by either negative headlines about potato prices or alarmism about availability. Even this year, despite a historically low harvest, there will be a secure supply of tasty and healthy potatoes. However, the industry must be more self-confident as to the new challenges posed by the elimination of active ingredients and the increased demands of consumers on transparency and sustainability.
Employees of the companies NORIKA Potato Growing GmbH, Bushman's Landkartoffeln GmbH & Fangmeier Agrarhandel GmbH & Co KG meet at the potato evening.
However, consumers themselves also need to rethink things. It can not and must not be that Germany's food, that belongs amonh the healthiest and best when seen internationally, should also have the lowest selling prices. Food is a valuable commodity and it deserves fair prices.
Tom Schöller (Theodor Stadtmann GmbH & Co. KG), Jaap de Ruijg (United Fruits Group BV), Thomas Gerner (Theodor Stadtmann GmbH & Co. KG) and Ralf Albers (Hermann Albers Wholesale GmbH)
International developments
Herkenrath also responded to international developments: "The impact that Brexit and global trade conflicts have on us and our work will be demonstrably clear this year. At least tonight, guests from all parts of the industry and from all over the world are represented here. They all have a common goal of producing great food at a fair price, in a cosmopolitan and peaceful environment. In any case, we hope that next year, on the occasion of the 16th International Potato Evening, on 4 February 2020, we will be able to draw a positive balance for this year," said DKHV President Herkenrath.
A cosy gathering. In the picture are -among others- Bernhard Thissen (Josef Thissen GmbH, far left), Jan Bouten (Fritz Jungnickel GmbH & Co. KG, 3rd from left) and Andreas Klaffke, EUROPLAN Pflanzenzucht GmbH, 2nd from right)
In addition to the regular guests, many new participants also found their way to the International Berlin Potato Evening in 2019. After lively discussions, making new contacts and appointments for further discussions at the Fruit Logistica, the industry meeting ended only in the early morning hours for many of the visitors.
Peter Dankers (Dankers Daltex GmbH), Henrik Knude Larsen (Norddeutsche Saaten Partner GmbH), Johannes and Christoph Dankers (Dankers Daltex GmbH) and Richard van den Dolder (Inverness Transport)
For more information:
Deutscher Kartoffelhandelsverband e.V. (DKHV)
Schumannstr. 5, 10117 Berlin
Tel.: 030 / 664068-52
Fax: 030 / 664068-53
E-Mail: willamowski@dkhv.org
www.dkhv.org