US consumers spent more on spuds in Q1 2023

Potato retail sales increased 16.0% in sales, but decreased in volume by -4.4% from January – March 2023 compared to the same timeframe a year ago. Despite a decrease, volume…

The price of onions will decrease with the new harvest in Ukraine

This year, farmers have significantly increased the area under onion cultivation, which will lead to a significant reduction in prices for this vegetable when the main harvest…

Bangladesh government approves import of 280,800 tons of onions

In a press release on Monday, the Ministry of Agriculture stated that the government of Bangladesh has approved the import of 280,800 tons of onions. Earlier, Agriculture…

"Many overseas production areas have begun to have demands, and the price of red onions has risen"

Recently, onions in Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu have been harvested on a large scale. The planting area of red-purple onions was less than that of previous years, and the production has decreased to a certain extent. The price remains high and relatively stable. Affected by the high price last year, the…

Ontario potato producer commits to change

Peter VanderZaag, who runs Sunrise Potato Storage in Alliston, Ontario, has spent much of his farming career investing in new equipment, securing contracts and growing his…

Latvian growers detect new potato parasite

The pale potato cyst nematode (Globoder pallida) has been identified in a Zemgale potato farm. Potato cyst nematodes can cause significant damage to potatoes in warm,…

Can hybrid potatoes change the international potato industry?

A hybrid potato version might make a huge difference, especially in the agricultural regions of Africa. But it could also play a major role in the transition to sustainable…

How will the hybrid potato change the international potato sector?

Is the hybrid potato the new weapon in the fight for greater food security? The hybrid version of this popular crop could make a huge difference, especially in the agricultural regions of Africa. But it could also play a major role in the transition to sustainable agriculture in the West. On Friday 2…

The dilemma of golden onions in Egypt

According to EastFruit estimates, Egypt was the main supplier of yellow onions to the markets of Eastern Europe and the European Union in the first 4-5 months of 2023.…

Bosnia and Herzegovina denies import of 22 tons of potatoes

On June 2, the Federal Sanitary Inspection at the Orašje border crossing prohibited the import of a shipment of potatoes for industrial processing from Poland. During the…

Tajikistan is expecting a record onion harvest this year

The export of early-harvest agricultural products from Tajikistan has started, including onions. The export of early onions to Kazakhstan has already reached a volume of…

Minnesota and Wisconsin potato growers hope for some rain

As potato planting is wrapping in the northern states of the US, soil conditions have gone from too wet to very dry. In northwest Minnesota, soil conditions are much better…

California transitions onion growing regions, tightening supplies

Supplies of onions from California are slimmer as the transition between growing regions gets underway this month. Gerry Valois of Western Onion says typically production begins in the Imperial Valley around April 20th and harvest lasts until the end of May, possibly a week into June. “What was unusual…

Goldstein Agrarhandelsgesellschaft mbH

"Subdued early potato volumes are marketed at persistently high prices"

The marketing of table potatoes and onions produced in the previous season is now also in the final spurt in the Free State of Bavaria. "German onions in the pack calibers 50-70 and 70-90 are still available in sufficient quantities, so that we have been able to cover the needs of our LEH customers with…

SDGP Potato Value Chain Project Rwanda

Are potatoes the next hydroponic crop?

The resilience of global food security is a critical concern. Facing limited access to land and potential disruption of the food markets, alternative, scalable, and efficient production systems are needed as a complementary buffer for the maintenance of food production integrity. The purpose of this…

Changing weather patterns affect potato growth in Northern Ireland

Experts claim that changing weather patterns are hurting potato growth in Northern Ireland. Long periods of dry weather at present could affect crop yields later in the…

"High onion prices will persist until a new harvest is available, since there are no good alternatives"

Earlier this season, Jan van der Lans announced that this would be his last onion campaign. "It has become a memorable season. I had never seen prices increasing so fast in the long run. We sold the last onions from Chile and Argentina this week. Another small batch from New Zealand is scheduled in two…

Decision to import onion worries Bangladesh growers and traders

The government of Bangladesh has decided to allow import of onions starting today. This has triggered an alarm in the market, with merchants saying suppliers are seeking help…

Better returns, but lower yields and higher costs for New Zealand onions

The New Zealand onion harvest was finished on time and the bulk of the seasons exports have been shipped. Planting has started for the new season albeit a bit stop start due to more wet weather.  "The growing season last year was particularly challenging, lack of sunshine and extended wet periods affected…

Import potato dumping will hold harmful consequences for South Africa

South Africa’s total land area is approximately 122.3 million hectares, on which about 52,355 hectares of potatoes are planted every year. According to stats by Potatoes South…

China, Pakistan and other Belt and Road countries work to collaborate to improve potato industry

In an attempt to turbocharge the potato industry, 11 Belt and Road (BRI) countries including China and Pakistan have joined international universities, companies and…

Bangladesh considers onion imports to stabilise market

The onion market is turning volatile much to the dismay of the general consumers who have their backs already to the wall due to skyrocketing prices of the essential…

Philippines: Former Secretary of Agriculture William Dar denies involvement in onion cartel

Former Filipino Secretary of Agriculture William Dar has denied involvement in an alleged onion cartel that is said to have been behind the spike in onion prices last year.…

Michael Andersen/Twitter.com

Denmark: Trucker detained after huge potato spill delays traffic on Storebaelt bridge

A truck driver was detained yesterday after a load of potatoes was found spilled on a key bridge linking the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen. The driver was held on suspicion of causing reckless endangerment to life. A first spill was reported on the westbound side of the Storebaelt bridge early in…

Sweet potatoes are a complex crop

Benoit Labouille started growing sweet potatoes in 2015, wanting to offer a product from France to supermarkets and wholesalers. Initially, the producer only supplied the local market, but the need to expand sales has led him to turn to supermarkets as well. Today, Benoit Labouille owns almost 40 hectares of conventional and organic land. On his farm in the Nouvelle-Aqu…

Minister announces approvals under Seed Potato Sector and Chipping Potato Sector Investment Aid

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has announced the commencement of the issuing of grant approvals under the 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid…

Agri Ministry Bangladesh still hesitant about onion imports

Onion prices, which showed a slight decline a few days ago, have started rising again from Tuesday as retail costs soared to Tk 80-95 a kg in different urban areas. A vendor…

I Love Produce enters partnership with Chicago holding company

I Love Produce of West Grove, Pennsylvania, marketers of garlic, ginger and shallots, announces a partnership with Promise Holdings, a Chicago-based holding company…

Seven onion packers embrace TrueAI to transform the market

Together with customers, Ellips is looking for opportunities to improve their grading technology. This ongoing collaboration and our drive for innovation has helped to revolutionize the onion market by improving operational performance and enabling our customers to deliver the quality and consistency…

Swedish research produces new model for studying and predicting impact of late blight on potatoes

A recent study, conducted by a team of scientists at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and The Rural Economy and Agricultural Society, focused on creating a…

US lawmakers urging Japan to accept fresh potatoes from Idaho

Idaho’s congressional delegation has sent a letter to the US Department of Agriculture, urging them to push Japanese officials to buy fresh potatoes. Japan is a top export…

Farmers in Atlantic Canada face 'abnormally dry' conditions

Farmers in Atlantic Canada are increasingly worried about drought, as many regions on the east coast have been classified as drier than usual for this time of year. According…

Slight growth in Ontario sweet potato acreage

Planting is underway in both Ontario and North Carolina for the 2023 sweet potato crop. “It’s a good start and we’re feeling pretty optimistic about it. We’re increasing our acreage base slightly and also adding some new variety trials to the mix,” says Nick VanBerlo of Berlo’s Best.  VanBerlo says that while…

Agrarian Development Minister wants Peruvian native potatoes to reach new markets

Peru’s Agrarian Development and Irrigation Minister Nelly Paredes has affirmed that her sector has been boosting exports of native potato processed products. These have been…

Swedish 2023 potato harvest starts well as weather warms up

Swedish growers started harvesting the 2023 season’s first outdoor grown fresh potatoes earlier in May. They expect to harvest more volumes as the weather warms in the different growing regions of the country. SydGrönt's fresh potato growers Jesper Ebbesson, Pontus Pojmark and Johan Svensson. SydGrönt's started…

"Ware potatoes are fetching 60+ euros"

Jan-Eric Geersing's Dutch company focuses on seed potatoes, and he stays well on top of ware potato market happenings. "That market's a madhouse. Consumer potatoes are currently selling for more than €60/100 kg. It's starting to resemble the onion market, and we could well get high ware potato prices for…

Egyptian red onions available until mid-June

The best collaborations are always the unexpected ones. Igor Tasso, a trader active in Italy and Europe who had never worked with Egyptian onions, knows this all too well. "The situation on the onion market is extremely difficult at the moment. Thanks to the collaboration with an Italian operator who knows…

Rangpur farmers see bumper onion output and rewarding prices

Rangpur farmers are happy with a bumper production of onions. The prices in all five districts of the Rangpur agriculture region are quite nice as well. Officials of the…

Tight yellow onion supply may leave promotional door open for Vidalia onions

Vidalia onions are starting the transition from shipping fresh onions to moving into storage onions. “We finished harvesting last week and it’s about a week transition because you’re still sizing the onions that have come out of the field,” says John Williams, director of sales and marketing of LG…

"At the end of the road, yellow onion prices shoot up again after all"

The Dutch onion season is nearing its proper finale. "The last onions are being distributed. Many graders are stopping, and only those with commitments are still at it. But we're really at the end of the road now, and growers have very few free yellow onions," begins Wouter van der Beek of Bruin Export.…

EastFruit

Onion prices in Ukraine have updated their historical records

In January 2023, EastFruit analysts warned that wholesale prices for this product would reach at least $1 per kg, and considered scenarios in which prices could even be significantly higher. Over the past three weeks, wholesale prices for onions in Ukraine have resumed their rapid growth and by Friday…

EastFruit

Potatoes from the new harvest at record-low prices in Georgia

EastFruit analysts note that the new potato season in Georgia began with very high prices for the potatoes of the new harvest. However, according to a survey held on May 19, the average wholesale price is at the lowest point for the week in EastFruit’s history. Interestingly, prices for the potatoes from…

Ukraine introduces national standard for potatoes

Ukraine has developed and implemented a national standard for food potatoes. The regulations will be enforced according to the order issued by the Ukrainian Scientific…

Michigan potato fields endangered by potato early die complex

Michigan is the nation’s leading producer of potatoes for potato chips, and potato farmers across the state harvest 1.7 billion pounds annually. That is why it’s concerning…

The abundant rains will again accentuate the shortages and tension in the onion market

After a long period of drought that caused the water reserves to be significantly depleted, torrential rainfall has been recorded in recent days in the main onion producing areas of Spain, such as Murcia and Andalusia, and this has brought the harvesting of early onions to a halt. The supply has been…

Filipino Agriculture Dept defers implementation of SRP for onions

According to officials of the Department of Agriculture the implementation of the P150 per kilo suggested retail price (SRP) for red onions and P140 per kilo SRP for white…

Wet weather and hard-to-control diseases caused the Australian potato shortage

In the lead-up to Christmas last year, Australia had a major potato shortage. Experts claim that wet weather, floods and highly persistent fungal diseases were the main causes…

Texas onion production transitioning north

“As they say in real estate, this could be a seller's market for a while.” So says Dante Galeazzi, CEO/president of the Texas International Fresh Produce Association of the onion market right now. Texas onion production is transitioning north to the Uvalde-Wintergarden-Quemado region.  In Texas, the Rio Grande…

Maris Piper prices rally as stocks dwindle

Maris Piper prices rose significantly throughout the last assessment period, with the Mintec Benchmark Prices for Grade 1 Packing Maris Piper EXW England [Mintec Code: KZ03]…

"Egyptian potato producers must take climate change into consideration"

Despite a difficult potato season in Egypt, due to weather disturbances that reduced yields in some areas, producers say they have managed to achieve good volumes. Sayed El Attar, an Egyptian potato producer, commented on the situation. Unlike his neighboring producers, Sayed's crop has not been impacted…

Domestic topfruit prices firmed by low supply

The prices of apples are 23% and pears 18% higher than last year on South Africa's domestic market, notes fresh market analyst Dr Johnny van der Merwe. Lower volumes are as a result of successive hail over some 2,500 hectares in the mountains above Ceres as well as in the Langkloof. The average price per…

India: Onion exports up 64% in FY23

Onion exports jumped 64 per cent in volumes to hit a six-year high at 2.53 mln tons during 2022-23 on strong overseas demand and higher supplies. In value terms, onion…

"Rain prevents early potato harvest in Seville and Cartagena and there will be product shortages in the coming days"

The rains recorded in Andalusia and Cartagena have interrupted the early potato harvest in the main production areas. It is feared, therefore, that in the coming days there won't be enough supply to meet all the demand. This has been stated by José Peláez, manager of Sevillana de Patatas, a company…

After a record-breaking year, what is in store for US potatoes?

US potato production declined for the fourth consecutive year and this season’s crop is the smallest since 2010 This has led to potato prices surging to their highest levels.…

"First cold-soil Frieslander potatoes available"

In the Netherlands, Polder Potato's Anton Riezbos has managed to get his hands on the first cold-soil Frieslanders. The early potatoes come from the De Jong company. "These were planted early and cultivated under plastic. Planting was impossible for a while," says Anton. "So there's little chance of a…

Part of the potato and onion production is lost

We can say potatoes are lost in the areas hit by the flood in Emilia Romagna (Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Bologna provinces), as 24 hours under water are more than enough to destroy the crops. The situation is not much better when it comes to red onions, even though they are sturdier.  "At least 2000 hectares…

Potato deficit to stabilise as Georgia transitions to new potato season

Analysts at EastFruit think that the potato price rise is unlikely in Georgia in the near future. May is a transitionary period when the Georgian market switches from last…

World Potato Congress 2026 to be held in Nairobi

The World Potato Congress Inc. is pleased to announce that Nairobi, Kenya has been chosen as the site for its 2026 World Potato Congress. The proposed theme for this event is,…

Potatoes USA

Survey asked Americans what is their favorite, nutritious way to eat potatoes

A recent Potatoes USA survey investigated different regions’ preferred, nutritious ways to eat the mighty spud. And the results just might surprise you. “As a dietitian I know the nutritional power the potato packs,” said Bonnie Johnson, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition and industry relations, Potatoes…

World’s largest potato masher to be installed at Plover food and farm center

The village of Plover is now home to the world’s largest potato masher. The staff and Board of Directors of the Food + Farm Exploration Center held a special ceremony for the…

"A load of potatoes there, and back with pallets"

It has been four and a half years since Van der Windt acquired the pallet and container business Wipal. These are both Dutch companies. Van der Windt's various branches have been active in potato and fodder trading and transport for many years. "A great combination," says sales manager Huub van Velden.…

Concerns that the price of frozen potatoes may increase in South Africa

In South Africa, there are concerns that the price of frozen potatoes may increase, adding to already high food inflation. The International Trade Administration Commission…

Kartoffel-Entrup GmbH & CO. KG

"Lower Saxony storage potatoes hardly available on the open market"

This year's potato marketing season is now in its final spurt. "Alternative goods are being phased out: hardly any goods are still available on the open market and are traded at higher prices; in food retailing, some chains have already switched to imported goods for the most part. But there are also…

Bangladesh officials will decide on onion imports in two to three days

Bangladesh’ Agriculture Ministry will observe market trends and take a final decision on allowing onion import in the next two to three days. According to Agriculture Minister…

EastFruit

Great sourcing opportunity for onion importers

While Ukraine continues to break price records for onions – last week wholesale prices here reached $1.18-1.34 per kg – prices continue to fall rapidly in Tajikistan. As of the end of last week, according to EastFruit analysts, wholesale prices for onions in Tajikistan have already fallen to 18 US cents…

North Wales chips shops suffer from potato shortages and price hikes

Through his business, Peter Gwyn and Sons Quality Potatoes, Peter Gwyn has supplied potatoes in North Wales for over 30 years. But he is now seeing things that he has never…

Bangladesh: Government to import onions unless price drops soon

According to Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, his government will import onion if the price of the essential item does not come down immediately. “We are observing the overall…

When it comes to French Fries, Gen Z is choosing McDonald’s

According to CivicScience’s latest data, the battle for the top spot in the race for the most appreciated fast food French Fries isn’t particularly close: McDonald’s is a…

Dutch onion exports top 1 million ton mark

Dutch onion exports have, again, topped the 1 million ton mark, GroentenFruit Huis export statistics show. For the last eight weeks, exports fluctuated between 12,000 and…

Price of fries set to go up in South Africa

Aiming to prevent further dumping on the South African Customs Union (Sacu) market, the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) has introduced substantial import…

Italian White Onion from Margherita ready to enter the retail market

There are still vegetables that are planted and harvested by hand and grown on small plots of rarely more than a hectare. An example is the Margherita White Onion with Protected Geographical Indication, grown in the southern Italian region of Apulia. The onion is protected by a consortium and already has…

Bangladesh sees prices of vegetables go up even more

In Bangladesh, vegetables and spices became even more expensive last week. Onion, ginger, and cumin seed prices continued to skyrocket. The price of onions witnessed a further…

Is the Egyptian production the solution for potato shortage in Europe?

This year is marked by strong demand and insufficient supply of potatoes, a situation that professionals of the industry and media go so far as to call "the global potato shortage".  On the reasons for this situation, and how Egypt is the ideal source of potatoes for Europe, Yassen Abdelhay of the company…

"European market situation not causing more competition for imported onions"

The import season is in full swing in Europe. "Denimpex has, again, imported different colored onions from across the globe this year. We got white onions from India, Australia, and Mexico, yellow ones from New Zealand, Tasmania, Chile, Egypt, and Argentina, and red onions from Egypt," begins Joey Deen. Do…

Inflation causes double-digit dollar growth for potatoes

Inflation continues to have an impact across the country. For potatoes, retailers across the country are seeing incredible double digit dollar growth. “However, this is coming at the expense of volume sales,” says Ross Johnson with the Idaho Potato Commission. While inflation causes dollar sales to…

European potato demand remains strong despite soaring prices

The Mintec Benchmark Prices for Processing Potatoes EXW Netherlands were assessed at €420/mt on 16th May 2023, representing a 66% year-on-year increase. However, despite the…

Gene-edited blight-resistant potato might be a game-changer

Potato plants resistant to blight are one of the game-changing breakthroughs in Europe for gene editing. The UK has already given the go-ahead for gene editing, and several…

An award to recognize good management, financial reliability and corporate sustainability

For its competitiveness in terms of management, its reliability in the financial field, and its sustainability with regard to an unquestionable balance sheet algorithm, the Campania-based company from Montesarchio (Benevento), ‘Coppola Patate’, has won the Industria Felix 2023 Award from the magazine of…

Philippines: Government considers importing 8,000 tons of white onions

The Filipino government is considering importing 8,000 tons of white onions this year to stabilize prices, according to Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry…

EastFruit

Moroccan onion exports up despite serious drought

Despite the most severe drought over the past three decades in Morocco in summer 2022, the country continued to increase onion exports, according to EastFruit.In the first nine months of the current MY (June 2022 – February 2023), Morocco has already exported above 65,000 tonnes of onions, more than in…

Prices for new harvest potatoes, cabbage, and carrots rose sharply in Ukraine

In mid-May, prices for new harvest potatoes, cabbage, and carrots rose sharply. Agricultural companies began shipping young cabbage at 30% higher prices than a week ago. The…

Filipino government plans to import 22,000 tons of onions

The Filipino government is considering importing 22,000 tons of onions to stabilize prices in the country. According to DA Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez, the farmgate…

Advancing the future of potato processing

REYCO Systems®, a manufacturer of oil removal systems to the growing processed potato and French fry industry, has announced the launch of their newest product, the EcoMiser®…

Filipino Department of Agriculture considers suggested retail price for onions

The Filipino government is eyeing the implementation of a suggested retail price (SRP) for onions as the agency is looking into the possible hoarding of the bulbs. DA…

Fostering potato partnerships for food security

The World Potato Congress (WPC) Inc., through its mission of creating value chain networking within the global potato community, has officially adopted the Declaration of…

Weed control by camera detection

Acquette SARL specializes in the production, packaging and marketing of onions under the “Ferme de l'Artois” brand. This year, the company has decided to invest in the technology developed by Ecorobotix in Switzerland for the localized treatment of weeds. “We started the tests a month ago, so this is the first year of cultivation…

Patatas Hijolusa acquires 100% of Agrícola Villena

Patatas Hijolusa, a leading company in the cultivation, selection, packaging, and marketing of fresh potatoes in the Iberian Peninsula, acquired on May 8th 100% of Agrícola Villena, S.L., a company from Alicante that was founded in 1919 and is currently the largest processor by volume and marketing of…

Canada: Overall increase in total potato production and yield numbers in 2022

Despite farmer challenges such as high input costs and adverse weather conditions in many areas, Canada saw an overall increase in total production and yield numbers from…

Onion market review for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

According to EastFruit analysts, onions remain one of the most dynamic positions on the fruit and vegetable market, although, thanks to the arrival of new crop onions from…

Belarus: Potatoes planted on 81.9% of target area

According to a statement from the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, potatoes have been planted on 81.9% of the target area in Belarus. As of 15 May, spring crops were…

Good performance for Egyptian potatoes in the Spanish market

This year has been marked by global climate changes that have disrupted the production of potatoes and caused changes in procurement channels. According to Nessem Amgad, export manager of Elteriak Farms, the climate has also impacted Egyptian production, but to a lesser extent than in Europe. This has…

Lawmakers want U.S. fresh potato market access in Japan

A bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers want U.S. fresh potato market access in Japan. According to Head of the National Potato Council, Kam Quarles, the Japanese market…

Agreements signed to build four food factories in Jordan

Agriculture Minister Khalid Hneifat has signed agreements with a number of investors to establish four food factories with an investment volume of up to JD2 million. The…

Philippines: No more imported onions, but local stock 'enough' for now

Last Friday, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant and Industry (DA-BPI) announced that there is no more supply of imported red and white onions in the country.…

"Only speculators and the toughest farmers have onions for sale now"

"It has two definite sides. We'll eventually know if things went well. Still, there's currently so much money being thrown around, it's perilous," was the Dutch company Franje Onions Jan Franje's view of the onion market earlier this year. Three months on, and nothing has changed, according to the onion packer.…

Newhouse urges Biden Administration to stand up for potato growers in trade dispute with Japan

Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Dan Kildee (D-MI) and U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) led 31 of their colleagues to urge the Biden Administration to…

"The later the potatoes are planted, the riskier the transition to the new crop"

Belgian potatoes are pricey at present. This affects the fresh as well as processing sector, including Waltson Chips, which specializes in local artisan chips. "Stocks are very limited and might get even more expensive in the coming months. Who knows," says Joost Debeuckelaere of potato wholesaler Agro…

Increased influx of summer onions at Lasalgaon APMC

The influx of onions at the country's largest wholesale onion market at Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee has increased from 1,400 to 2,400 tons per day over the…

P.E.I. seed potato growers worried that restrictions may end markets for good

P.E.I. seed potato growers are worried that the province’s seed potato sector could be a casualty of the 2021 stoppage of potato shipments to the U.S., following a handful of…

If only we could use potatoes to combat SA’s load shedding crisis

Many people do not know that the humble potato may conduct electricity and function as a salt bridge between two metals on each side. This lets an electron current to flow…

Unitedpotatocanada.com

Total Canadian potato storage holdings May 1 are down 1.2% over 2022 numbers

Total Canadian Potato Storage Holdings on May 1, 2023 are down 1.2% over 2022 numbers for the same period, and higher than the 3-yr. average. There were fresh shippers in both Canada and the U.S. that noticed a slow-down in sales after the Easter holiday in April, which bears out when we look at the…

UK packing potato prices rise on dwindling supplies and planting delays

The Mintec Benchmark Prices for Grade 1 White Packing Potatoes EXW England reached £330/mt on 9th May 2023, up 22% month-on-month (m-o-m). The recent rise in prices has been…

Philippines: Onion prices going up again

According to the Department of Agriculture, retail prices of onions have increased again by at least P20 per kilo, as the highest selling price reached P200 per kilo compared…

“Sharp decline in produce trade from North America to Europe has changed our business”

Back in the 1990s, fresh produce exports from North America to Europe were significant, as the USA and Mexico together were able to supply produce almost year-round, something Europe couldn’t do. Frenchman Thierry Delapre saw an opportunity and emigrated from France to California in 1993 to start an…

Almaty is running out of groceries

Monitoring of the prices of socially significant food products conducted in stores of Almaty showed that the trend of decreasing the cost of the social basket, observed in the…

Top removal during harvest improves onion quality

Topping onions during the loading process isn’t new, but in Europe and other key growing areas it is not common practice. Here the crop is topped before it is swath lifted. Certainly when the onion haulm is still green and standing straight it is an potential source of infection for fungi and bacteria.…

Potatoes USA announces New Chairman to lead through 2023-2024

Potatoes USA, the marketing and promotion Board for the potato industry, elected new leadership during its Annual Meeting on March 15, 2023. Mike Carter of Rosholt, Wisconsin, was named Chairman of the Board, leading the organization and the Executive Committee through 2023-2024. Back row (left to right)…

Royal HZPC Group maintains forecasts

Potato breeder Royal HZPC Group maintains its forecasts for the 2022-2023 financial year. HZPC expects turnover to grow 11% from last year (then 352 million euros) with a gross margin of 66,5 million euros (last financial year 63.9 million euros). The potato breeder operates with a financial year from 1…

DEXIA is encouraging purchase of local white potatoes as farmers begin to harvest crop

The Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA) is encouraging the purchase and consumption of locally grown white potatoes, as the harvest season is now well underway and the…

"We are represented in all national supermarket chains, which support us in our initiatives."

Selenella Consorzio Patata Italiana di Qualità (Italian Consortium for Quality Potatoes), made its presence at the 40th edition of Macfrut with products derived from agriculture 4.0, with a high level of quality and low environmental impact. Among other things, harvesting operations of new potatoes are…

"From May to July, it is now impossible to do without Italian onions"

This year's marketing season of Italian onions is now in the starting blocks. In a good two weeks, starting on May 24, the first products from the southern Italian growing region will be available. The brown and red onions will generally be on offer until July, i.e. until the start of the harvest in the…

Grup Serban Holding signs deal with Intersnack in order to supply potatoes for Chio chips

Grup Serban Holding, a Romanian agriculture group listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange’s AeRO market, has signed a contract with Intersnack to supply potatoes for the Chio…

Potato planting in Castilla y Leon reaches its final stretch and it's possible yields fall

The sowing campaign, which started on February 20 with the planting of the short-cycle varieties, has reached its final stretch in the later areas of Leon, Burgos, and…

Nigeria: Onion sector loses N300bn annually due to lack of processing facilities

Nigeria is ranked the third largest onion producing country in Africa with  an estimated production of two million tons of onions worth N700 billion annually. Alas, over N300 billion…

“By growing our own mother plants, we can keep our entire chain virus-free”

Ireland is renowned as the land of potatoes, and nowadays also, a great part of the sweet potatoes eaten in Europe have Irish roots. From their greenhouse and propagation laboratory, Beotanics creates plant material that is used in their own sweet potato propagation company in Portugal. “By growing our…

India: Nafed will likely start onion procurement on May 15

The Central agency National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) is likely to start onion procurement on May 15, hoping to create a buffer stock.…

Potatoes to see strong markets ahead in the coming years

There will be strong markets for potatoes in the next few years. That’s what Tony Wisdom Founder and CEO of Skagit Valley Farm and Valley Pride Sales thinks as he looks ahead to the 2023 potato season and beyond. This is especially so given the higher pricing currently seen on Russet potatoes. (Though…

Onion prices skyrocket as its production falls by 30%

Producers and consumers have seen onion prices skyrocket. During 2022, onion prices increased by 238% due to the increase in production costs, a reduction in planted hectares,…

"This kind of market demands a gutsy onion trade"

The Dutch onion season has entered its final phase. "It's an exciting market, with more onions than everyone expected. Some batches changed hands three or four times," says Tjerk Nagel of the Dutch onion grading and packing facility Konaxx. "The high prices mean there's currently minimal demand, mainly…

NZ potato and onions prices up even more, pumpkin shortage forecast after wet summer

As the wet summer ruined crops in south Auckland, some produce is set to become even more expensive. According to Pukekohe farmer Bharat Jivan, from Jivan Produce Limited,…

‘Do not sacrifice me for onions and potatoes’

As competition has intensified between Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his most prominent rival, head of the Republican People’s Party, Kamal Kılıçdaroğlu, called…

The Minister of Trade announced the aggressive export of vegetables from Kazakhstan

The Kazakh authorities continue to strive to ensure the domestic market is saturated with food. Despite an excess of certain goods, they are faced with aggressive vegetable…

EastFruit

Onion prices have fallen in Georgia soon after the peak

Onion prices in Georgia doubled last week, compared to previous week, reaching 5 GEL/kg ($2.01) in the wholesale market. The reason is the supply shock, which was felt in the market already in March. EastFruit systematically published an analysis of the local onion markets in project countries, as well…

Vegetable still life by Van Gogh renamed as the onions weren’t onions

The Van Gogh Museum has renamed a painting by the Dutch artist after realizing that its title referred to the wrong kind of allium. The painting Red Cabbages and Onions, it turns out, should have been called Red Cabbages and Garlic. It took an eagle-eyed chef named Ernst de Witte to realize that Vincent…

Prices push farmers to plant and produce more vegetable

Ukrainian farmer Vitaliy Bilan believes that the vegetable market has all the conditions for growth. He is confident that cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onions are the first…

Spanish early potato campaign kicks off with a 35% production drop this year

The Andalusian early new potato harvesting campaign is starting these days in the provinces of Seville - the main producer - Cordoba, and Cadiz with a slightly lower planted area than last year. However, even though the planted area is similar, the expected production will be drastically lower as a…

McCain Foods and NatWest join forces to support growers’ sustainable practices

McCain Foods, the UK’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, and NatWest, the biggest bank for business and one of the largest for the UK farming sector, have come…

New grader spots internal decay for Canadian onion producer

Like many farmers, Nova Agri CEO Earl Kidston was struggling with a big problem: internal decay in his onions. After a long process, he found the key that would finally solve the issue: a new electronic grader with improved, advanced technology delivered by Eqraft. Located in the Annapolis Valley of Nova…