The Cypriot potato season has kicked off quite well this year, according to Marco Stahl, specialized importer and CEO of Tsiourvas, based at the Stuttgart wholesale market. "We started the new season before Christmas and were able to place correspondingly good quantities. In January, demand was subdued as every year, and in February there was a shortage of goods, which was partly due to the heavy rainfall in Cyprus. Consequently, it was not possible to harvest every week, which in turn has led to a relatively tight supply situation from the end of January to date."
Marco Stahl is dedicated to the import and distribution of Cypriot early potatoes.
Good prospects for Cypriot early potatoes
With beautiful, sunny weather, harvesting on the island in the Mediterranean is now gradually picking up again, Stahl continues. Preparations are underway for the harvest of the so-called Spring Crop, while the Pre-Spring Crop is increasingly running out. "In the 22/23 season, frost threw a spanner in the works, leading to smaller quantities and a relatively high proportion of small-sized potatoes. This year, however, the signs are much better: there is plenty of water, while we have been spared from frost during the growth phase. In total, we will therefore have good quantities and qualities, namely a pleasing proportion of the sought-after medium caliber. Therefore, I am confident that we will be able to offer red soil early consumption potatoes across the board in time for Easter." From a marketing perspective, the conditions are quite pleasing as well. "We are facing a relatively tidy market. Old crop table potatoes from domestic cultivation are available in manageable quantities at a correspondingly high price level. Cypriot early potatoes will only be available in small quantities for the next two weeks, so we can currently only serve the wholesale markets in Germany once a week."
"In Cyprus, we have mainly grown the Annabelle variety, as it is very popular with customers due to its smooth skin and beautiful horn shape," Stahl further observes. Moreover, the variety is very fast, so we can save time and have fresh produce before Easter. "We also import the varieties Spunta, Marabel, Monique, Capucine, and Emanuelle, which, however, can be harvested later. For almost 50 years, we have been planning the cultivation in Cyprus and distributing the goods to the wholesale markets, wholesalers, and supermarkets." The Cypriot goods are usually offered until June, around the start of the domestic early potato harvest in Germany.
Cypriot potato production
Slight increase in volume expected
Overall, the Cyprus specialist looks to the future with optimism. "However, a challenge will be the cost increase, which affects both sides. We want to continue offering our customers an attractive, affordable product," says Stahl. "Cypriot potato farmers are also facing higher costs, for example in the area of seed. It is therefore all the more important that we achieve reasonable prices for the goods every year so that potato cultivation remains attractive for the new generation of farm operators. All in all, the import volumes for the German market have remained pretty constant over the past years. However, for this season, we are expecting a slight increase in volume."
For more information:
Marco Stahl
Tsiourvas GmbH & Co. KG
70327 Stuttgart
Tel: +49 711 90 11 08 11
marco-stahl@tsiourvas.de
http://www.tsiourvas.de