NEPG urges growers to reduce planted area in 2021, although current harvest total expected to be average

The NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers) estimates that the total and final potato harvest for its members for the 2020 season will be on par with the 5 year average total.

In a press release issued recently, NEPG says the total planted area has increased with 1,4 % in 2020 compared to last year’s planted area. It estimates the total harvest to be 27,9 million tons, compared with 26,9 million last year in the big 5 potato producing countries in Europe – Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Great Britain.

This is 3,8 % more than last year. A large harvest, although not as large as the total harvest of 2017 with 29.6 million tons. After the heatwave in July and August, the crop is more mature than usual at the time of harvest. Recent trial harvests are on average showing only 200