"The demand for industrial raw materials for the processing industry -- French fries, chips and by-products at home and abroad - is very high and will continue to increase. Accordingly, the varieties are geared to this. For fries, the yellow-fleshed 'Fontane' is number 1. For special products, the 'Innovator' is in great demand. However, each variety has its own characteristics and a corresponding right to exist," Richard Grob, authorized signatory at Kartoffel-Centrum Bayern Ltd, told us. He is responsible for the range of table potatoes, onions and exports.
Effects of the 2022 drought
Looking back on the 2022 summer drought, Grob says prolonged drought in the main growth phase is counterproductive to the yields, even if the crop has less disease pressure. "You can compensate for it by irrigation, but if great heat is added, the plant puts up a growth stop. More stress then causes secondary problems such as shoot-through (a second generation is formed). Storage problems with rot are then the result," says Grob. Prices on the free market are currently at rather high levels for corresponding qualities. The extremely high price increases for diesel, energy, labor costs, etc. would have the same inflationary effects as in all other industries, says Grob. "Purchase and selling prices in the contract market will rise."
"The demand for products increases first in times of crisis such as Corona. We all still know the well-known 'toilet paper effect'. On the other hand, many bars and restaurants closed. 2022 was more about energy costs within the industries.
When asked about the
challenges facing the potato market, Grob replied: "I always think positively, no matter what the situation. In Bavaria, we have the gateways to Southern and Eastern Europe, we have first-class farmers and a very good growing region for potatoes, which makes it all perfect. The many challenges have been told and retold by the media and they are known to everyone. Food is always needed, that's why we are here with our whole team to offer this raw material potatoes nationally and internationally. Logistically, it is becoming more complex to keep the national or transit traffic rolling at full throttle. That's where I hope the situation doesn't get more difficult with trucking and the like."
The main customer for raw material for french fries is Aviko Rain/Lech, which is exclusively supplied by KCB, he said. "Additionally, we supply secondary raw materials to many well-known companies in the processing industry in Germany. Abroad, raw materials for chips, potato chips and gnocchi are also our main focus. At our second location in Geiselhöring we additionally pack potatoes for export in big bags; we pack bags of 4 to 25 kg with potatoes and onions. The main customers here are the wholesale markets and industries at home and abroad," Grob concludes.
Photos: Kartoffel-Centrum Bayern GmbH
For more information:
Richard Grob
Kartoffel-Centrum Bayern GmbH
Mittelstetter Str. 42
D- 86641 Rain am Lech
Tel.: +49 9090 / 9604 – 0
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.kartoffel-centrum-bayern.de
