"UK only take highest quality potatoes"

Dutch potato merchant Adrie Kleinjan of Kleinjan's Potatoes knows a thing or two about the trade: "To keep yourself afloat in the potato business, it’s no longer adequate to trade in the old-fashioned ways. You must distinguish yourself much more clearly these days: in varieties, sizes and packaging. You need to offer something extra, and this certainly applies when shipping to England and Ireland."

This is true, not just for table potatoes, but also for the processing industry, Adrie thinks. "There too we’re dealing with customers who might not want the same old varieties, but something different. If you are able to meet that demand, this can be a great market. No doubt about it."

The UK, to name just one destination, tends to sidestep continental varieties. Kleinjan is sure to cater to this inclination: his company offers a wide range of varieties. It sports no less than 30 different types, including varieties that are particularly popular on the British Isles. This popularity, of course, comes with a price tag. “Quality demands are quite high in England," says Adrie. "At the moment the prices are not that far apart, because everyone thinks his potatoes meet British standards. But people underestimate the UK’s propensity for top-segment items."

According to Kleinjan the potato market is reasonably stable at the moment. "But it’s not always possible, or wise, to predict what the market will do. It may be that there is movement on the part of the farmers; they can lower prices or do something unexpected. Demands, of course, may rise, causing prices to rise as well. But if I had to, I would estimate that at the end of the season, the demand will be greater than the supply. But you never know.”

[email protected]