Seed potato trader HZPC Holland BV has determined the definitive seed potato price for the harvest of 2018. HZCP pays Dutch seed potato growers a record price of €42.22 per 100 kilos. This is considerably higher than the average price of recent years. The price paid is resulting in the highest financial yield per hectare for average growers in the history of HZPC.
Lilian Escalon, manager Europe: “Because of our price politics and the high percentage sold as seed potatoes, the price paid is €42.22 per 100 kilos. This is fractionally higher than the prognosis prices that were announced four months ago. The yields per hectare were significantly lower compared to other years because of the dry weather during the production year of 2018. In spite of this, prices are resulting in the highest financial yield per hectare in the history of HZPC for average growers. It’s just a bit higher than the previous record of the 2010 harvest. The dry weather of 2018 had a lot of influence on the yield in the production of seed potatoes. We’re realising this will lead to major differences in financial yields between regions and between individual seed potato companies.”
Methods HZPC
HZPC Holland BV trades seed potatoes from September to May. Late February, the prognosis price per 100 kilos is determined. This is communicated early in March. All HZPC growers receive very regular advances for definitive seed potato prices from mid-October. Late June, when prices paid are determined, the remaining amount is paid to the growers.
Seed potato sizes are paid according to one pool system for all varieties. The price paid for individual varieties isn’t directly related to the sales price of a variety. However, prices paid are related to the degree of complexity of that variety in the production of seed potatoes and to the average yield of that variety compared to other varieties.
“Because of this high price paid, we’ll pay more for various varieties than the realised sales price of those varieties. This is particularly true for varieties meant for the processing industry. This is the result of the chosen payment system. It ensures the seed potato area for industrial varieties will continue to exist even after similar years,” Lilian Escalon says.
The following is an overview of prognosis prices (left) and definitive prices (right) for harvests of recent years:
For more information:
Gerard Backx
HZPC Holland B.V.
+31 (0)513 48 98 88
info@HZPC.nl
www.HZPC.nl