Andalusian growers expect good season

For the potato growers in Andalusia it could be a good year. Although the area is 10 to 15 percent smaller, the expectations for size, texture and taste are positive.

Despite the downward trend on the potato market and the persistent crisis potato growers from the Southern Spanish autonomous region Andalusia assume there will be a good season. This was said by the association of producers and exporters of the Andalusian early potato. The appreciation of the food and astronomical value of the new early harvest compared to ware potatoes, for the backdrop of the hopeful expectations.

The situation on the rest of the Spanish market is very different. The country is dealing with a price war: ware potatoes are sold quickly at low prices. But there's an optimistic feeling about the fresh potatoes.

Potatoes are an important ingredient in the daily kitchen. That's why it's not expected that the worldwide crisis will have a negative effect on the demand for fresh potatoes with a very competitive price.

The early potato is not the supermarkets enemy, but an ally, says the association. "The sales of stored products with low prices is negative for supermarkets on the long term, because the consumption of a lower qualified potato decreases the demand."

The producers and exporters of the Andalusian early potato consist of 15 companies and cover over 70 percent of the Andalusian potato production. The export effort represents 95 percent of the export of the Andalusian early potatoes on the European market.

Source: PotatoPro