"The demand for Israeli organic new potatoes is less than usual" Bart Nemegheer of the Aardappelhoeve says. It started really well in March and we had good weather for a while, but at the moment sales are quiet because of the cold weather. People are not eating new potatoes at the moment; for that it really needs to be warmer."
Possibilities Spain and Portugal
Nemegheer has plans to invest in the organic cultivation in Spain and Portugal during the coming years. "In this way we can change more quickly to Southern European potatoes and are expenses lower. Nevertheless it is quite an effort to get everything in order. A lot of work and time goes into the research of the possibilities, real pioneer work. Of course higher standards are required of organic potatoes. The soil must be certified, this is changing the field to organic. The change from conventional to certified takes 3/4 years on average. The plan is to start close to the coast on a small scale in these countries and if all goes well to increase the area. In this way we can start changing at the end of May/beginning of June instead of July to organic potatoes from Southern Europe."
"The demand for potatoes is nice, but could well be better. This is the same with all new potatoes at the moment. Possibly consumers choose the older harvest now, because prices of the new potatoes are higher. The wholesale prices of conventional potatoes are about 50/60 cents and with organic this is 70 cents. I expect that, when the weather turns sunny, the demand will increase further. The quality of the products is very good, so that can not be the reason."
For more information:
Bart Nemegheer
De Aardappelhoeve
7A, Putterijstraat
8700 Tielt - Belgium
T: +32-477 291784
F: +32- 514 09501
www.deaardappelhoeve.com
Bart Nemegheer
De Aardappelhoeve
7A, Putterijstraat
8700 Tielt - Belgium
T: +32-477 291784
F: +32- 514 09501
www.deaardappelhoeve.com