Potato quality sometimes surprisingly good

For a moment, it seemed that disappointing potato quality this year was yet another ingredient the market had to deal with. However, that quality is not as bad everywhere as was previously thought. It is clear that the tubers are quite eager to sprout. So, one must be careful. That said, we should not downplay all the problems. There are certainly growers who are facing a season of lower quality. It is no coincidence that processor Farm Frites introduced a contract modification that stirred quite a bit of dust. Not only among growers but also among stakeholders. Ultimately, the ACM intervened, after which growers now have until Christmas to agree to the proposal from the company. Harvesting dry A (large) part of the quality issues can be traced back to the harvesting conditions. In particular, in the south of the Netherlands and in Belgium, potatoes were harvested under dry and sharp conditions. On heavier soils, this certainly leads to an increased risk of damage. Where possible, there was anticipation by extensive irrigation, but practice proves to be stubborn. Too dry, too wet, uneven distribution, and so on. Nothing beats a shower from the sky, which unfortunately was absent. Various theories are circulating about the increased level of harvesting damage this year, aside from the high underwater weight. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. One idea is that the potato crop has absorbed less potassium this year (due to drought), which has negatively affected the skin quality. Growers who dared to wait until November did have an excellent harvesting quality, even though the growing season for those crops was not different. The presence of harvesting damage has also caused bacterial rot here and there. This usually involves small nests in the cell, but you have to do more handling than you would like for that. All in all, it's not simple. MH has worked Viaverda is monitoring this season 16 Flemish storage facilities where the variety Fontane is stored. These potatoes were harvested between the end of September and the end of October. Under dry and warm conditions, that is. With one exception, all batches were treated with the sprout inhibitor MH. Residue measurements indicate that the substance was well absorbed. That is somewhat contrary to the general idea, at least in the Netherlands. Even with Fontane, typically not the most eager variety, sprouting was detected very early. Viaverda also acknowledges that the effect of MH has thus far been little visible. Researchers attribute this to several factors. For starters, the potatoes have had more growing days than, for example, last year. As a result, the tubers entered storage physiologically older. Additionally, there was stress during growth due to drought and high temperatures. Due to the warm weather around the harvest, cooling after harvest was often delayed. This is also not favorable. Harvesters are still active Harvesting later has had a positive effect on sprouting, as the temperatures were lower. However, the risk of late harvesting usually does not outweigh the benefits. Prior to the harvest, the industries collectively called for timely harvesting. Due to the tremendously delayed land season, that has not always succeeded. Even in mid-December, potatoes are still being harvested. In the south, things are going quite well. In the (north)east, it is significantly wetter, but growers have usually selected the high, dry fields to leave untouched. Not all the product, by the way, comes out of the ground. There are growers who leave their free portion in the ground and use a cultivator or harrow on it. Those who prefer to have the land empty, or who must due to rental land, sometimes have to be creative. Mobile washing facilities are used to wash the product immediately and make it suitable for animal feed. This product is then ensiled in bags. After all, the maize and grass silos are already full. Potatoes are also sent for anaerobic digestion, especially when the quality is lower. Again, the product must be free of soil. It all incurs costs that are not compensated in the current market. Good baking quality Despite all the issues, the baking quality in the samples taken by Viaverda is excellent. Thanks to the high underwater weights, there is a significant risk of bruising, but this occurs in 5 of the 16 batches. Sprouting occurs everywhere, but is not yet a real problem. Due to the warm weather, even now, it has been difficult to bring the batches to their target temperature. A short cold snap has ultimately helped with that. In October, the processing yield of Dutch factories was 54.8%, just above the five-year average of 53.4% and can be considered good. Looking at the known quality figures, fries producers can rely on sufficient potatoes of good quality. Issues, such as those that arose after harvest 24, should not hinder the market in that respect.