News on Potatoes for processing from Europe

In mainland Europe the widespread closure of restaurants and other food service outlets has meant that demand for processed potato products has fallen significantly.

Due to COVID-19 the free market of potatoes has completely collapsed. The PCA/Fiwap and the Belgapom price quotation has been suspended because of a lack of transactions on the free market of potatoes.

Aviko Potato starts to pay more for long storage. A potato grower who stores his potatoes until July and qualifies for all bonuses receives € 220,- per ton.

AH Worth CEO Duncan Worth speaks to Ed Leahy about his company’s rebranding as it sheds its old name, QV Foods

Patatas Meléndez, la empresa vallisoletana líder en producción de patata fresca en España, ha inaugurado hoy su presencia en el mercado central de Frutas y Hortalizas en Mercamadrid, con un puesto situados en la nave E del mercado mayorista de la capital.

Potato processors in the United Kingdom and their growers express again extreme concern about the potato supply, due to wet weather and potato varieties grown for processing in particular affected.

Los nuevos hábitos de consumo están brindando al sector de la patata inéditas oportunidades para poner en valor este producto, que a pesar de ser considerado un básico en la cesta de la compra, puede todavía reinventarse.

On 7 and 8 November, Agrico held its annual variety show at its research station in Bant. During this show, the cooperative presented its new, innovative varieties and inspired visitors to work together to maximise professionalism in the chain.

Meléndez invertirá 15 millones en ampliar en 21.000 metros su fábrica de Medina del Campo con la creación de 50 empleos.

Jeroen Kuin, Agroplant, Medemblik: 'No customer wants to depend on only one or two varieties for processing.'

Willem in 't Anker, C. Meijer BV, Rilland: 'There's a constant need for new potato varieties, also for French fries.'

Tigran Richter, Norika/Binst, Sanitz (D): 'For every interesting potato variety that performs better than what we already have, there's a chance in the market.'

Rindert Dankert, Breeding Company Kooi, Leeuwarden: 'In order to increase a possible success, we focus mainly on the early segment.'

Harry van de Vijver, Germicopa, Quimper (F): 'Give us yellow-fleshed French-fry varieties with broad nematode resistance.'

Peter van Eerdt, Danespo Holland, Berltsum: 'No one is really 100 percent happy with the potato variety that they grow or process.'

Jörg Renatus, Europlant Holland, Heerenveen: 'We perceive a demand for robust, stress-resistant varieties with nematode resistance.'

Jan-Paul Bandsma, De Nijs, Warmenhuizen: 'We're looking for strong, robust, drought and heat resistant varieties.'

Jan-Eric Geersing, Caithness Potatoes Nederland, Emmeloord: 'New French-fry varieties must excel in at least one characteristic, but in fact have two good ones.