Early potato sales have been disappointing in the Netherlands since the season began. "Sales started and stayed difficult," says Alvantho's auction director, David Hage. "We could harvest early this year, and then you hope the market is ready for these potatoes. The opposite is true."
"Varieties like Bildstar and Eigenheimer are selling well, but these have become niche. But the sales of the main bulk of Doré and Frieslanders are simply disappointing. That's been going for almost two months now. The price isn't even the issue; on the futures market, there's even a little added now and then. There are just too few potatoes being sold."
David Hage
"Greengrocers and market vendors can't sell enough. That's when we desperately need the retail sector. If they don't step in, you can't get things going. I'm not considering the current sweltering weather; the market doesn't hinge on that. Fresh potato consumption was quite good during the pandemic. But ware potato sales are falling again," says David.
Wim van de Ree, Nedato's director, confirms the pandemic's effect on the market. "The increase we experienced during that time is truly over. We'd hoped consumers had possibly rediscovered the potato. Sales are thus, understandably, disappointing. Those are lagging compared to last year, but we're still around the pre-COVID level of 2019."
Wim van de Ree
"The drop in fresh, unprocessed potatoes also continues unabated. That decreased by four to six percent before the pandemic, and that downward trend continues. Also, retailers are continuing with old Dutch crops for much longer; they want to supply Dutch potatoes all year round. In the Netherlands, we can easily store potatoes until the end of June. Nedato's now in the third week of import potatoes, and this week we're switching to the new crop of firm-skinned, Dutch Frieslanders," Wim concludes.
For more information:
David Hage
Alvantho
11 Langeweg
4697 ZG, St. Annaland, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 166 652 450
Email: veiling.sa@alvantho.nl
Website: www.alvantho.nl 
Wim van de Ree
Nedato
48 Jan van der Heijden Street
3261 LE, Oud-Beijerland, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 186 645 945
Email: wvanderee@nedato.nl
Website: www.nedato.com