“Good pick for the potato”

“Good pick for the potato”

Et patati et patata, the potato is still there… No more of the refrain of shortage. The song is no longer in season. In the refrigerated sheds, the stock level has risen. And the tubers are jostling at the gate. The inter-professional organization estimates the 2023 collection at 6.8 million tonnes, an increase of some 12% over one year, according to figures published on Wednesday January 10.

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Even if the forecasts from the Ministry of Agriculture, delivered at the end of November 2023, were more optimistic, at 7.1 million tonnes, the balance sheet, which crumbled a little following the bad weather, remains favorable. A result obtained by a combined increase in planted areas and yields, after, it is true, a year 2022 to forget.

And who says full hangars, says falling prices? Nope. They remain supported. Good pick for the potato… “We have negotiated a 40% increase in the price of our contracts for this campaign,” welcomes Christophe Desmis, a farmer based in Vrély, in the Somme.

Nearly 60% of its potatoes supply the nearby Mousline factory (which belongs to the food industry giant Nestlé), where the famous dehydrated mash is concocted. The remainder passes into the hands of traders who market the tubers to potato chip manufacturers in Spain.

Very popular producers

A common scenario. Indeed, if the French eat, year after year, almost 50 kg of charlotte or bonnotte, the latter are very often, almost 60%, ready to be consumed. Consumers seem to be reluctant to buy a fresh legume for cooking. It’s so tempting, not to mention the supposed time saving, to open a bag of frozen fries or a packet of chips to snack on.

European industrialists are therefore seeking to seize the precious commodity. They are expected to eat 2 million tonnes more than in 2022. And the region of northern France is very popular with French manufacturers, but also Belgian and Dutch ones, keen to stock up on supplies.

Especially since drought, then rain and bad weather limited the harvest in other European countries. Producers are therefore very courted. And the courses remain well oriented. “The price of a variety intended for mash or chips is around 200 euros per ton, and rises to 300 euros for chips”, explains Mr. Desmis. In terms of costs, a tonne of tubers can even be negotiated at 400 euros. The golden potatoes from French patatiers…