“It’s an unusual time,” says Janine Luten, director of the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO), a trade association for companies that trade in seed and consumption potatoes, about the potato market. “Sector demand has been down, so, in late July, there were still plenty of ‘old’ potatoes on the market. Unlike the rainy 2024, this year’s harvest is early, after a beautiful spring. That means there are new potatoes on the market, too. A larger supply means lower prices. Plus, there’s been an acreage expansion.”
© NAO, Ingrid van der ZelJanine Luten, photocredits Ingrid van der Zel
That is not to say the whole season was bad. “It had its dramatic moments, but that doesn’t mean it was a dramatic season. Until July, it was excellent and many people earned well,” explains Janine, pointing out that around 80% of potato cultivation is contracted and, thus, purchased at fixed prices. “As a result, many growers got good prices. The remaining 20% of potatoes are freely traded, and that sector must help absorb calamities.”
Geopolitical developments and local-for-local
Janine attributes the vanishing demand from the French Fry sector to geopolitical developments and partly to local-for-local, which shifts the focus to local potato cultivation and processing. But she also sees new opportunities emerging from this situation. “The trend towards local-for-local offers new chances for the seed potato trade,” Janine continues.
“Also, low prices offer export possibilities to customers who previously couldn’t afford high-quality Dutch potatoes. There will be new competition, but that brings opportunities for our traders.” The Dutch specialization in potatoes is an advantage, Luten notes. The Netherlands is uniquely suited to potato cultivation and has a good infrastructure. She believes both the Dutch government and the sector have roles to play in that.
In that area, the sector is involved via the Holland Innovative Potato, part of the CropXR study into using new methods to accelerate the breeding process. “That’s a wonderful collaborative project involving a great deal of high-quality knowledge,” Janine states. Another development is the cultivation of potatoes from seed, which she says some NAO members are actively developing.
First 100 days
Janine succeeded Dick Hylkema as NAO director in early July. What have her initial experiences been like? “In the first 100 days, I’m mainly getting to know the organization and its members. Based on that, during that initial period, a puzzle will fall into place regarding the issues I’ll focus on. We’ll start by defining a mission, vision, and strategy for 2030 for both the organization and the sector,” she concludes.
Nederlandse Aardappel Organisatie (NAO)
Tel.: +31 (0)70 3589331
[email protected]
www.nao.nl