Farmer and member of the Pfälzer Grumbeere producer group, Alexander Friedrich, grows early potatoes on about 60 to 65 hectares. For the most part, he says, the firm-cooking variety Annabelle is grown, which is supplied directly as fresh produce or as young potatoes to various weekly markets. "Furthermore, we also grow the predominantly waxy variety Berber. Sunita is floury, Colomba is also a nice variety that is very popular with the food retailers," he informs us. We met him at his farm for the start of the season for the early potato harvest of the Pfälzer Grumbeere.
Alexander Friedrich on his farm in Hochdorf-Assenheim
EZG member for 40 years
"Early potatoes are a very high-maintenance crop. Because of this, our acreage has remained the same so far. Because we produce with film and other covers, among other things, we have been able to provide early produce to the weekly markets this year. The demand is definitely there." He also said the weather has been ideal for growing potatoes.
"The weather here in the Vorderpfalz is very favorable for potato growing and are quite early in the harvest this year. Northern Germany and parts of southern Germany were not able to plant for a long time because of the wetness. We produce more potatoes in our region than we could sell here, which is why the produce is marketed throughout the country. Our trademark has always been that we could offer early produce that is on the shelves across Germany."
Friedrichs has been working with the EZG for more than 40 years. His parents were already members of the Pfälzer Grumbeere. "The EZG represents us producers to the outside world and communicates with retailers as well as with national food retailers. In addition, they also take care of quality assurance from the individual farms, so we can focus entirely on production." In addition to potatoes, he grows corn in parallel for the farm's own biogas plant.
Cultivation costs have increased both due to the consequences of the pandemic and as a result of the war in Ukraine, he said. "However, I believe that individual market participants have definitely enriched themselves from the crises. All prices, especially for raw materials, have suddenly skyrocketed. Despite this, we producers got paid less last year. Nevertheless, food retailers naturally also had higher costs and had to quote correspondingly higher prices."
Alexander Friedrich and his family, as well as Hartmut Magin (chairman of EZG Pfälzer Grumbeere 4th from left) and EZG member Ralf Pinno and his family at a Pfälzer Grumbeere event held at Friedrich's farm.
Further information:
Alexander Friedrich
67126 Hochdorf-Assenheim