The summer holidays and the end of the month, combined with increased availability, led to falling prices on the table potato market. In some cases, these falls were quite sharp. According to the German BLE, the range expanded to include several new varieties, including Gloriette and Goldmarie.
© BLE
North Rhine-Westphalia:
The REKA price for table potatoes was reduced to EUR 14/100 kg. In the coming weeks, quality assurance must be the top priority during harvesting and, in particular, storage of table and industrial potatoes: "Quality before quantity."
Rhineland-Palatinate:
The situation on the potato market remains tense. Persistent supply pressure is weighing on producer prices, even though the price reductions are smaller at the low level that has been reached. With the main harvest now underway, there is little hope of a change in the market situation in the near future. The upturn in demand at the end of the vacation period has so far been overshadowed by the expansion in supply.
Schleswig-Holstein:
The local potato wholesale market remains well supplied. Good yields and convincing quality are reported for the current main harvest of table potatoes. So far, the weather has ensured rapid harvest progress. The supply from the harvest is very large in some cases. Wholesale prices are falling continuously. Sales through farm shops and at weekly markets remain relatively stable. Although most of the harvest is now being stored, further price weakness is possible for now. Producers and food retailers are trying to boost sales with promotional campaigns. Many bulk buyers are taking advantage of the favorable offers. The end of the school holidays in many federal states and the cooler weather forecast should also stimulate demand somewhat. Trade in free industrial goods, on the other hand, has come to a standstill. There are currently no more quotations here.
Bavaria:
Potatoes are being grown on 38,934 hectares in Bavaria this year. According to the crop production report of the State Institute for Agriculture (LfL), this represents an increase of 3.6 percent compared to the previous year. Bavaria is one of the main potato-growing regions in Germany.
However, producers are facing various challenges, such as late blight and Alternaria, a leaf disease. According to an assessment by the Farmers' Association (BBV), however, producers had both diseases well under control.
Another problem for growers is the planthopper (Petanstiridius leporinus), which transmits bacteria that make the plants sick. "Thanks to the monitoring system that has been installed, we know that by 2025, the cicadas will have spread to almost all growing areas in Bavaria. The state advisory service called for countermeasures to be taken, and these were implemented," said BBV expert Johann Graf.
Lower Saxony:
Due to the vacation season, sales of table potatoes were very weak in the second half of August. This led to a sharp decline in prices. "We expect relatively high yields per hectare with currently good quality," stated Heidesand eG. Last week, harvesting and storage work increased noticeably. The increased supply had an impact on price developments, resulting in slight price declines in all regions.
Hesse:
In the state of Hesse, there were no significant price changes compared to the previous week.
Saxony:
In Saxony, prices continued to trend downward from week 34 to 35.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania:
Researchers at the Julius Kühn Institute in Groß Lüsewitz are attempting to develop more resistant varieties through crossbreeding.
