According to Adrie Kleinjan of the potato trader with the same name in Goudswaard, the Netherlands, potato sales are currently continuing well. "The demand is healthy and quite broad and the products are being sent to many destinations. The question is what will happen after the New Year, when the licenses for Africa are fulfilled. Then we need markets to take over. Eastern Europe is a possibility, but they are very focused on the price/ quality ratio. We have to wait and see what the processing industry and the domestic market will ask. "
"The price has been at a stable level for weeks and after New Year's Eve it will become clear how the market will hold up. The world is just like a village and if markets or demand decrease, other markets will have to absorb that," Adrie notes. "There are generally enough potatoes, but the quality differences are enormous per individual grower. It makes a lot of difference whether they have harvested before or after the rain or not at all. In North Holland, but also in the Southwest, there are still quite a few batches in the ground still. In the UK, this applies to as much as 20% of potatoes. "
"All in all, we are having a very remarkable year. Despite three heat waves last summer, we currently have good quality at our disposal, while the heat almost always leads to the necessary problems. On the other hand, it is just so remarkable that hectares of potatoes still have to be harvested on 16 December. For many growers, these weather extremes still cause some headaches as to whether they can and want to grow such large areas in the coming years, which you must be able to handle financially and mentally. Enough to reflect on during the Christmas days," Kleinjan concludes.
For more information:
Kleinjan’s Aardappelhandel BV
Adrie Kleinjan
adrie@kleinjansaardappelhandel.nl
www.kleinjansaardappelhandel.nl