The mood in the potato market has now cooled somewhat, according to Frank Poelman of potato wholesaler Landjuweel from Oosternieland. "From December to early January, the sentiment was quite positive because there was uncertainty about whether the potato supply would be sufficient this season. This led to a significant price increase."
"In particular, prices in the table potato market rose considerably over the past few months. People were clearly concerned about a repeat of last year when table potatoes had to be purchased for 60 to 70 cents per kilo in May. Most buyers therefore stocked up earlier this year, reasoning that it's better to pay a few cents more now than face extreme prices at the end of the season, as happened last year," says Frank.
"But now, the market has calmed down somewhat, as we've seen in Belgium, where for the first time, some prices dropped instead of rising. Prices for PlanetProof-certified potatoes, however, remain at a strong level in the table potato market and are still significantly higher than in the export market. Reportedly, export activity has been minimal over the past month, with many exporters sourcing potatoes from France, where more supply is available than in the Netherlands."
"Personally, I expect a stable potato market in the coming period. There may be small price increases later in the season, which would justify storage costs, but this would allow everyone in the supply chain to benefit. When extreme price fluctuations occur, as they did last year, there is always one link in the chain that ends up paying the price," Frank continues. He is positive about quality. "Given the growing season, I initially thought quality might be more of a concern, but so far, it has been very good. And now that we're approaching the end of February, most problematic batches have already been dealt with."
Despite the higher NEPG harvest forecast recently published, he says the Dutch potato packers' market operates independently. "We only pack Dutch potatoes, which must also be PlanetProof-certified, and that volume is at least 6–8% lower this season." Landjuweel focuses on Dutch products year-round. "And we succeed almost every season—last year was the only exception, and even then, we only fell short for a few weeks. Whether we can fully meet demand this year depends on spring weather conditions and whether early planting is possible."
"For organic potatoes, this season has been particularly difficult. The growing season was disastrous due to Phytophthora, which severely impacted crops, causing organic growers to harvest only half their usual yields. This has made it a tough season for organic growers. While sales remain relatively stable, the high prices are not driving demand," Frank adds. Landjuweel continues to process sweet potatoes from its supplier Koenraadt in Espel. "Sweet potatoes remain a great product, but the strongest growth phase in the Dutch market has now passed," he says.
During Fruit Logistica, Landjuweel introduced PeeperPops, a convenience potato product that can be prepared in just eight minutes thanks to its microwaveable packaging. "We've upgraded the packaging to make it more visually appealing. The response has been very enthusiastic, and we have already secured commitments to place these potatoes on store shelves. From April, PeeperPops will be available, and we are fully prepared for a broad market launch," Frank concludes.
For more information:
Frank Poelman
Landjuweel
Tel: +31 (0)595 454 200
f.poelman@landjuweel.nl
www.landjuweel.nl