Few industries have been so affected by the Corona pandemic as the potato industry. From the hoarding in spring to the sales problems with peeled potatoes in the wake of the current lockdown closure of restaurants and other eateries. The year 2020 was without doubt a remarkable marketing year for the German potato industry.
Volker Peters – Managing Director of Helle Niedersachsen – looks back on the year and reflects on the future.
“The market for table potatoes is currently on the move again; there is demand for goods,” Peters says. “The marketing of chip potatoes is also working again, although prices are below contract levels. The French fries segment recorded a small upward trend in September and October, but was again brought to a virtual standstill when the restaurants had to close down again.
“The processing of the peeled goods is undoubtedly suffering the most from the conditions. At the moment, processing capacity is only around 30 percent,” says Peters, describing the current situation.
Peters says the European potato industry is registering considerable surpluses every year. According to him a reduction in acreage would not be a complete solution to the industry’s real problem. “Farmers are increasing their acreage because there is no good alternative…
