Author name: Cristina

Publication author: Jean-Marc Storper – SARL Maison Mendel Potato market chronicle September 2019 All market chronicles The bluster of the previous campaign is well and truly over. Prices remain buoyant at very correct levels for a grubbing-up period, due to persistent drought. The open market is calm, with operators loading their contracts. The industry, which obtains its supplies from England and Holland (where crops have been better irrigated), is playing down the price in France, deliberately displaying unrealistically high prices. Back-to-school promotions are struggling to materialize, given the impossible grubbing-up conditions. In the absence of Bintje, some operations are being carried out with early varieties… But we’re going to have to get used to the idea in France that Bintje is gradually disappearing! This is a harsh reality for the end consumer, who has often enjoyed them since childhood. Exports are on the up! Spain and Italy are there, both in washable and packaged form, washed or unwashed. In this context of drought, shot (especially firm-fleshed shot) seems strangely to be the most sought-after product. The big question now is: “When will the saving rain come, enabling Hauts-de-France and Belgium to harvest in good conditions? What will we harvest, and will we be able to preserve it? As usual, we won’t know until the end of November, unless abnormal weather conditions permanently disrupt our calendar. We wish you all a good start to the campaign!

Publication author: Silvana Paolozzi – Ets Jacques Albert Potato market chronicle May 2023 All market chronicles A campaign that ends on a high notewith strong market dynamics, sustained general demandwith very good prices maintained throughout the yearprices maintained throughout the year.Initially, the industry was expecting a sharp drop inin potato production due to the extreme drought, withextreme drought, with major yield losses.What is the situation today? There is growing concern about a potentialpotential water shortage this summer, while much of FranceFrance is experiencing excess rainfall.Will this be enough to reverse the trend?We may be surprised, as there are major disparitiesdisparities between regions and countries, but we shouldn’t forget thatthat water reserves are in deficit. The months aheadtell us, but it’s too early to draw any conclusions.conclusions.What will be the consequences for quality?The early harvest should take over nowbut we already know that there are shortfallsin the NEPG zone, in relation to the planted areasin decline. Will we be able to count on Spanish primeurs?Not so sure. Spain is experiencing major problemsdrought. We can expectmuch lower yields and a loss of size.What can we expect for the 2023-24 campaign?A lot of questions are being asked.taken positions with contracts at much higher prices thanthan in recent years, with the majority of contractsof contracts. The rise in energy prices and galloping inflationhas undoubtedly enabled us to get back on track.But will this be enough to meet the challenges, risks andproduction? The questions are many.What to plant? For fresh produce, for industry, what variety?what treatment, to counter the surprisesof more unstable weather than ever…To be continued.  

Publication author: Jérôme Bonnier – Ets Jérôme Bonnier Potato market chronicle March 2023 All market chronicles he conclusion of my March 2022 column was that finding potatoes on the open market this to find potatoes on the open market next season. next season. 12 months have gone by, and there is sport, and it’s here to stay. The open market is very very tight for the end of the campaign, with the last retention by the last stockists. Packers are continuing to self-supply and are only buying the bare minimum, knowing that that double washing is necessary to get through certain to pass certain batches of very delicate quality. The rate of The rate of waste is exploding at the same rate as the purchase price. Disputes are becoming increasingly frequent. On the fresh produce market, Spain, Portugal and Italy are 15 days late in harvesting new potatoes. new potatoes. The arrival of the first potatoes from Israel and Egypt is imminent. In Brittany, after a promising start for planting under tarpaulin in February, there was a 4 to 5 weeks, then a resumption. But intentions to plant seem to be on the wane for fresh potatoes, while the potato industry has a ferocious appetite and is recruiting new producers. For their part, the starch and beet production sectors beet production sectors are suffering enormously. What will growers do stop or switch to potatoes? The Netherlands and Belgium are struggling to increase production areas, while France will be planting begging for rain! In any case, early potatoes will find their place this year, with prices year, with prices expected to be very buoyant. But then, there are a lot of parameters for change of change and a lot of questioning for the coming year on all markets. Could France become the new potato Eldorado? for potatoes? More sport!

Publication author: Frédéric Laviron – Roussineau SA Potato market chronicle January 2023 All market chronicles Rarely in the history of the fresh produce marketI share with you, you’ve left me so doubtful…I’m not sure what to think of you: your European productionlimited, and yet I’m exporting you at a steady paceat the start of the campaign to our traditional marketsand Eastern European countries, where demand has not waned;everything leads me to believe that, once again, this will be your year,and your price remains high; so much the better!But there’s something you’re not telling me… Look at me throughyour lenses. Your quality is far from exceptional.For over a month now, your price range on the fresh marketmarket has only widened. I quickly realized thatdemand for intermediate quality was rather lowand that, in view of my storage costs, I had to get rid of you fast.get rid of you.Processors are courting you for the next campaignand their sacks were full at Christmas.As a result, I no longer know what to plant: seedlings? fresh?Industry? And what was a reality last yearis becoming a real trend this year;your consumption of fresh produce is once again marking time.The technical and environmental constraintson your production (less phytosanitary products), the difficulty and sometimes astronomical costs to maintain your quality in the fridge, and finally the risk you represent in terms of the market compared to other to other crops, all of which can lead to a  profound change in the face of your production.But dear tuber, since I’m talking to you, I believe in you, and know that there’s no shortage of ideas to adapt you, because your assets are exceptional: a staple product that consumers love, with a vast by the consumer, with a vast market and dynamic research. You remind me a little of a ship in a storm… but the captain is an expert and knows the sea. So,” bon vent” in 2023! Happy new year to you.

Publication author : Silvana Paolozzi – Ets Jacques Albert Potato market chronicle november 2022 Toutes les chroniques de marché In this campaign, under the spectre of war, which seems to have put the brakes on sales, industrial demand has nevertheless remained very firm on the market. After the great calm of the first quarter, dynamism has finally returned, with a good flow of business in Eastern Europe, Spain and Germany. Following on from the end of the campaign, the market remains active, with Italy seemingly showing more interest towards the end. Unfortunately, we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel, but the quality is no longer there, and good-quality batches of potatoes are becoming scarce. Prices are on the rise due to the scarcity of the product, but it’s important to realize that prices haven’t really taken off this season; the main reason for this is the level of quality, which no longer corresponds to certain markets that have become increasingly demanding. Forecasts for the new campaign are a little more optimistic: NEPG is indicating a drop in plantings of around 10%, not to mention the fact that the war in Ukraine may hold some surprises in store. And then there’s the big suspense, “the drought”, which is lurking and worrying us, as some départements are already on alert with a spring without any winter reserves to help combat it. The year is thus shaping up to be one of major upheavals and challenges for some, in view of energy increases and the political, economic and climatic situation. Télécharger le pdf de la chronique

Publication author : Silvana Paolozzi – Ets Jacques Albert Potato market chronicle may 2022 Toutes les chroniques de marché In this campaign, under the spectre of war, which seems to have put the brakes on sales, industrial demand has nevertheless remained very firm on the market. After the great calm of the first quarter, dynamism has finally returned, with a good flow of business in Eastern Europe, Spain and Germany. Following on from the end of the campaign, the market remains active, with Italy seemingly showing more interest towards the end. Unfortunately, we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel, but the quality is no longer there, and good-quality batches of potatoes are becoming scarce. Prices are on the rise due to the scarcity of the product, but it’s important to realize that prices haven’t really taken off this season; the main reason for this is the level of quality, which no longer corresponds to certain markets that have become increasingly demanding. Forecasts for the new campaign are a little more optimistic: NEPG is indicating a drop in plantings of around 10%, not to mention the fact that the war in Ukraine may hold some surprises in store. And then there’s the big suspense, “the drought”, which is lurking and worrying us, as some départements are already on alert with a spring without any winter reserves to help combat it. The year is thus shaping up to be one of major upheavals and challenges for some, in view of energy increases and the political, economic and climatic situation. Télécharger le pdf de la chronique

Publication author : Jérôme Bonnier – J B Grains SARL Potato market chronicle march 2022 Toutes les chroniques de marché rofessionals have to reinvent themselves every year: there was covid, then telecommuting, Brexit, Israel’s year of land rest, and now the conflict in Ukraine. With all these disruptions, the industry is finding it hard to regain momentum. The conflict in Ukraine is raising awareness that our globalized profit model, advocated by the giants, can collapse at the snap of a finger. Raw materials, gas, wood, grain, oil, inputs, seeds… many of the materials essential to our equilibrium pass through or come from this country. Our economic model of cheap supplies is collapsing. Growers are faced with a major economic choice for the survival of their farms: produce vegetables that require labor (difficult to find), equipment, time and energy for production and processing, or switch to well-remunerated cereals. For some, the choice was quickly made, with industrial potatoes and grain. Thanks to higher prices, simpler storage conditions and more flexible quality criteria, the area dedicated to industry is increasing, while that dedicated to the fresh market is likely to decrease. With the quality requirements of this market becoming ever more stringent and less profitable, it’s not impossible that supply will shrink, leading to a more sustained, if not very sustained, market price. In the meantime, supermarket sales are stagnating or declining, our Spanish and Italian customers are importing less, and Italy is increasing slightly… It remains to be seen what impact the cost of fuel will have on these destinations. If the Ukrainians don’t sow potatoes or onions, let alone sunflowers, our whole model could be seriously challenged into question. Planting of French early vegetables is underway. The first Breton plants should arrive around June 1. There are also reports of plantings in Beauce in mid-March. Let’s be positive: people, whether displaced or not, will have to be fed, and potatoes are still part of the staple diet. In view of these changes, it’s going to be a real struggle to find potatoes on the open market next season. Télécharger le pdf de la chronique

Publication author : Frédéric Laviron – Roussineau SA Potato market chronicle september 2020 Toutes les chroniques de marché It’s very difficult to make forecasts in this context of health crisis… But it’s certain that the return of Covid to France and the four corners of Europe is slowing economic activity. Our market is naturally suffering as a result, first and foremost the catering and snacking industries, which have cut their industrial trading activity by at least a third. The first bankruptcies of industrial trading structures in the Benelux countries are a sure sign of more to come. Let’s be cautious and vigilant. Beware of the domino effect, which could well claim collateral victims in the fresh produce market. Against this backdrop, the persistently hot, dry weather is complicating harvesting in the North. The domestic market is quiet, and goods harvested too early are finding it hard to find takers. Back-to-school promotions for unwashed Bintje are keeping supermarkets on their toes. We’re going to have to work hard to get people to admit that Bintje is at the end of its life. With true 7.5s in Beauce becoming increasingly rare as a result of grubbing-up (dartrose, rust, etc.), prices have firmed up slightly in recent days. Have we hit rock bottom? Despite the logistical problems that are always present at this time of year, and which are taking on even greater importance given current potato prices, Spain remains a loyal customer for France. They are always keen to have good batches of washable 7.5s suitable for storage, as well as unwashed Spunta and white-fleshed varieties. Exports to the Gulf States have resumed on schedule. However, against the backdrop of the health crisis, it is difficult to be optimistic about the market for products initially intended for industrial use, which is likely to depress prices for basic products on the fresh market. Again and again, CAT I quality (or color 7.5) will come out on top… But be careful when selecting batches for refrigerated storage!   Télécharger le pdf de la chronique