There's currently a clear division in the Dutch potato sales market. It's between french fries and ware potatoes. "Sales in the consumer market are going well. Exports to Africa are also doing very well. But the french fries market is terrible at the moment. And, unfortunately, it's pulling the consumption market down with it," says Kees Schouten of Altena Potatoes in the Netherlands.
"Agria exports are disappointing. Restaurants here are already closed. The question is, how this is developing elsewhere in Europe. Clients in France and Spain are already ordering much later. It's all short-term work. Usually, we do good business with Spanish factories that supply hotels and restaurants. But they need very little now. They normally start putting in orders around this time."
"The potatoes' quality is good. A lot of them still have to be grubbed, though. About 70% of the late varieties are still in the ground. Hopefully, it stays dry until the beginning of next week. Then a lot can be done in the regular clay soil plots," concludes Kees.
For more information:
Kees Schouten
Altena Potatoes
15 Veensesteeg
4264 KG, Veen, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 416 392 565
Mob: +31 (0) 653 127 488
Email: kees@altena-bv.nl
Website: www.altenapotatoes.com