Steel nerves required in potato market

It is warm and dry. Crops are struggling and even with irrigation it is not easy to keep the potatoes growing well. Growers are becoming increasingly optimistic about prices, including for the remainder of the old crop.There can be quite a gap between asking prices and achieved prices. Some growers are now asking €30, for example for mechanically cooled Agria in box storage. PotatoNL is still well below that, with a top quotation of €20. Reka today came with €17.50 for Markies and €15 for Fontane. That is the same price as Belgapom quoted for Fontane. For the early potatoes, Reka is at €21 and €23 for Zorba. Fiwap/Viaverda quoted €25 for the early potatoes.Based on the weather forecast, many growers think there is still some room for prices to rise in the potato market. For the coming week, the European weather map shows virtually no meaningful rain in the forecast.The toughest growers remainWith moderate growing conditions and a substantial reduction in acreage, especially in the early varieties, some growers believe that processors badly need the last free potatoes from the 2025 harvest. Recent developments suggest they have been right so far. The big question is: where is the top? At €30, as some growers are now asking, or have we already reached the maximum with well over €20? The growers who still have potatoes in storage are the toughest holders, so in that respect there may still be some upside. On the other hand, it is also said for good reason that those who try to squeeze the very last euro out of the market may end up getting burned. No matter how you look at it: these remain interesting times in the potato market.