More potatoes planted in Western European countries

According to a news story published on the Spanish web site Revista Mercados, a total of 131,640 ha of potatoes were planted in France this year – 5.1% higher than 2016, and the second consecutive year that more potatoes were planted in that country. In 2016 the planted area grew 5.3% compared to 2015 (125,250 ha). The total potato area planted in Belgium was 5.4% more than in 2016, totalling 96,281 hectares – 21.5% more than the five year average. The area under cultivation in Germany has grown by 4.5%, totalling 171,900 hectares; in the Netherlands there was an increase of 4.1%, totalling 75,800 hectares; and in the UK farmers planted 4% more potatoes than last year, amounting to 103,200 hectares. (figures based on data released by the Association of Northern European Potato Producers, NEPG). In Spain the area under ​​potato cultivation in 2016 was 73,196 hectares, 4.4% more than in 2015, according to Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and the Environment. Potatoes worth 146 million euros were imported to Spain from France last year. Spain exported potatoes worth 123 million euros in total in 2016. Read full article in Spanish