Czech growers report an exceptionally good harvest. Compared to last year, there is a 16 percent higher volume of cereals, including corn, and the potato harvest should be about 25 percent greater, according to the latest data supplied by the Czech Statistical Office. Growers estimate that nearly 670,000 tonnes of potatoes will be harvested.
"Compared to last year's harvest, the potato production has increased by a quarter, maybe a little more. We will know as soon as all potatoes have been harvested," said Miloslav Chlan, of the Central Potato Association.
"This year's production will be greater than last year, which was marked by very poor harvests, but also better than the average of the past few years. We think they will also be good quality potatoes," he says.
This growth is partly due to the fact that the acreage increased compared to last year.
"There are about 700 hectares of planted areas more, and also a better yield per hectare, reaching a very nice 28 tonnes per hectare," explains the director of the Department of Statistics of Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment, Jiří Hrbek.
"The harvest is higher compared to last year and this is obviously reflected in prices. Prices at origin have dropped by four to five crowns," he adds.
Miloslav Chlan expects that after the harvest, prices at origin will rise. "Current prices depend on the quality and variety, but stand in a range from about 2.50 to 3.50 crowns per kilogram (0.09 to 0.17 Euro); below the production costs," he says.
Consumers are starting to show greater interest in the origin and quality of potatoes. "It is said that Czech consumers traditionally prefer price over quality, but I believe they are starting to show a greater interest in what they are buying and where it comes from, and that's doubly true of potatoes," concludes Chlan.
