According to a news report published by FreshPlaza, Bulgaria’s potato production will be smaller this year due to adverse weather conditions. Ventsislav Kaimakanov, chairman of the National Association of Potato Producers (NAC), said in an interview with Focus News that “the potato harvest will be notably reduced because of climatic conditions. Losses have been recorded in many fields, so the production will be smaller than in previous years.” Kaimakanov noted that problems were reported in all major production areas. He also explained that about 450,000 tonnes are needed every year to meet the Bulgarian demand, but even in the best case scenario only 200 to 250,000 tonnes can be produced in the country and the rest need to be imported.
In a report published in the Dutch language by Agf.nl, it is said that Poland can seemingly count on a big potato production this season. The quality is apparently high, although prices are low. However, weather conditions in several regions in the north and west of the country have recently been affected by heavy rainfall, and this may have an adverse effect potato quality. Official figures on production will only be published when the season is over. “Prices are stable although competition on the Polish market is high at the start of the season, which may change prices rapidly,” says Łukasz Ostrowicz from Bugaj Sp. Z.o.o. “The only domestic potatoes on the market are new potatoes yet, but the first potatoes are expected to be over a week or two. The most grown new potato varieties are Riviera, Lord, Denar, Volumia, Colomba and Anuschka.”
