Good potato rises above tiny sum

The demand for Innovator and Markies gives the potato market a slightly different look. That is not the case for the sales of Fontane and Challenger, which remains a major problem. Belgapom is failing again this week. Due to a lack of transactions, there is no quotation for either Fontane or Innovator. Earlier in the week Viaverda and Fiwap still quoted €0.00 per 100 kilos. This means Belgium remains the most difficult market for free potatoes, while in France there is still no quotation either. Germany and the Netherlands are not doing much better. In these countries prices are above zero, although PotatoNL quotes a range of €0 to €1 per 100 kilos for Fontane. Reka-Rheinland is in the middle with €0.50 per 100 kilos. In this light, Agria and Innovator are more attractive to have in storage. Although prices here also remain far below cost price, these varieties still provide a limited return. Now that the season is well advanced, processors are looking for raw material in order to produce good fries at the end of the campaign. The season of Innovator ends first and within a few weeks processing of this variety will stop. That is why there is still a strong search for potatoes that fry well, so that stocks can be built up for the bridging period. Innovator suffered from dry harvest conditions last year. As a result, few lots still meet the desired quality. The demand for good lots is greater than the supply. That pushes up the top end of the price, while processors are trying to hold on to the bottom end for as long as possible. PotatoNL quotes the Innovator group at €2 to €6 per 100 kilos. The top end has been raised, but the bottom end has fallen. This is due to a lot of Markies that was traded earlier for €2. The average therefore remains the same as in week 19. Markies is meanwhile being sought as a replacement for Innovator. More is often paid for this variety, with transactions rising to €5 per 100 kilos. For later delivery, higher prices may be in store. This is linked to the fact that this variety still shows good frying performance at the end of the season. In a year with early deterioration in the quality of storage potatoes, that is extra relevant. First quotation for Markies Reka-Rheinland is responding to this and is quoting a price for Markies for the first time of €2 per 100 kilos. This is admittedly a very low price, but it does indicate that trade is actually taking place. With €0.50 for Fontane and €3 for Innovator at the top end, the price range in Germany remains limited. At the same time, German companies are also buying potatoes at higher prices, including in the Netherlands for better Innovator lots. In the Netherlands, €5 to €8 per 100 kilos is paid for qualitatively good lots. That has long applied to Innovator and Agria, but now also to varieties such as Markies and Lady Anna. Good potatoes are therefore gradually fetching more than a tiny sum.