Tensions on the potato market will remain for now. The harvest is as good as over by now, but quality is not always good and is very inconsistent. “One batch is not the same as the next. For example, the potatoes regularly have growth cracks or green. Besides, part of the harvest has a high starch content, making the potatoes more susceptible to damages such as blue,” says a Belgian trader.
Not easy to find
Prices for free batches are still at a good level. “It can be difficult to find the right price with all those different qualities. Batches with better qualities are doing well. It is difficult to find really good potatoes that do not have any problems. There is a big chance that this will stay the same during the entire season, because we do not know how the potatoes will be when they come out of the barn after storing. All sorts of things could have gone wrong with those. Of course, we hope it is not the case, but the tensions will remain with us for the entire season, I expect.”