Compared to last season there is presently a very positive mood on the potato market. The demand is larger than the supply and this means better prices for growers and trade. "Prices increase every week," Bart Nemegheer of de Aardappelhoeve, Belgium says.
For conventional potatoes the price is now 125 to 130 Euro per ton. It is quite possible that the price will be at a higher level next week."
Organic: smaller harvest, good prices
Also for organic potatoes the news is reasonably good. "Because of rain we were afraid of mildew, but that luckily was not too bad. There are good parcels. Because it is organic cultivation Phytoflora is difficult to fight. In order to overcome this the leaves had to be burned early and this caused a smaller yield. Prices are, however, quite high, about Euro500/ton. This is because of a shortage on the market and the demand is larger than the supply. Everybody is looking for organic potatoes at the moment and I expect prices to remain reasonably stable for the coming period.
Because of the smaller harvest this is a compensation for the grower. Last year was a terrible disappointment and now they can earn something again." Bart notices a normal growth for organic potatoes each year. Because of the crisis perhaps a little less, but it remained stable. A large number of people obviously eat organic products."
Because of the smaller harvest this is a compensation for the grower. Last year was a terrible disappointment and now they can earn something again." Bart notices a normal growth for organic potatoes each year. Because of the crisis perhaps a little less, but it remained stable. A large number of people obviously eat organic products."
At the moment Nemegheer offers potatoes of Dutch origin. He expects to market the Belgian harvest shortly.