Market chronicles

Publication author: Frédéric Laviron – Roussineau SA Potato market chronicle January 2022 All market chronicles One thing is certain: French fresh potato production was, in terms of volume, correct. With this in mind, we’re all familiar with the adage: “Before Christmas, I can sell potatoes; after Christmas, I have to sell potatoes”. The industry’s responsiveness? While we can be pleased with the industry’s responsiveness in meeting the expectations of the new clientele in Eastern Europe, the fact remains that we are still short of our volumes on our traditional markets and partners on the Iberian Peninsula, demanding high tuber quality in a context of falling consumption. Of course, export volumes are buoyant, and I expect this to continue over the coming months in the East, as we await the opening of new markets such as Poland and the Czech Republic, unless the early potatoes from Greece, Egypt, Israel and, of course, Spain put a serious brake on our momentum. Don’t relax your efforts for the next harvest No, my main concern is that we shouldn’t relax our efforts, and that the outlook for the next harvest is hypothetical. Looking at recent years, we can see that demand is concentrated on high-quality, washable products and that, barring climatic incidents (as is the case this year in the East), we are reduced to producing, processing and selling only this type of quality and product.and products.What about a second-rate product? Many farmers today are wondering whether they should switch all or part of their acreage to more profitable or more reliable crops such as cereals, corn and, of course, processing potatoes. The technical constraints weighing on production, the difficulty of keeping potatoes in the fridge, the growing number of certifications, the demand for quality… all these factors combine to bring about a profound change in the face of future production at every level of the industry.

Publication author: Christelle Denis – SARL D.Vegetables Potato market chronicle November 2021 All market chronicles After a rather wet summer, harvesting continued well into October. Harvested quantities are forecast to be slightly lower, but quality is deteriorating rather rapidly (scab, dartrose…). Since September, the domestic market has not been buoyant, and contracts with growers are more than sufficient to meet packaging needs. Will the harvest be sufficient to cover needs? If winter doesn’t encourage more consumption of potatoes, our harvest will be sufficient to cover the needs of the campaign! There is some concern about this market, which is struggling to get going. On the export front, we are nonetheless seeing a certain dynamism on the part of our Spanish and Italian neighbors, who are buying to stock up because of their lower production levels; but here again, they are also seeing lower consumption than in previous years. Central European countries are also buying earlier, due to unfavorable weather conditions in their countries; their purchases are mainly concentrated on unwashable or semi-washable potatoes. Potatoes, the French vegetable of choice In addition to this sluggish market, all raw materials (cardboard, wood, plastic, etc.) will have to rise in response to growing global demand. The elimination of plastic packaging for small potato packages also poses a problem for the supply of recycled raw materials, and increases production costs! Will consumers be able to keep up if prices continue to rise? Will they continue to buy potatoes, which are still one of France’s favorite “vegetables”?

Publication author: Jean-Marc Storper – SARL Maison Mendel Potato market chronicle September 2021 All market chronicles After a first part of the cycle that was too wet, marked by excess water and heavy mildew pressure that has rarely been equaled, here we are at the end of the cycle in dry conditions, to such an extent that irrigation is often necessary to harvest the plants. The impact of climate Climate disruption, or rather climate brutality, certainly has all kinds of surprises in store for us, depending on the variety and production basin (hollow hearts in large sizes, cracked, split, rust, scab of all kinds, mildew, erwinia, bacteria, etc.). There were wide disparities between plots, and often within the same plot, in terms of yield and quality. In any case, this wet season has triggered the phytosanitary budget like never before. Under what conditions will we be able to harvest, and what real quantities will be storable, marketable and in what category? Answer: not before the end of November, as always. Depending on storage problems, dubious lots are likely to weigh down the market in the first half of the season. The strategy of other countries On the domestic market, those nostalgic for back-to-school promotions on Bintje for cellaring are having a hard time realizing that Bintje is becoming rarer. And scarcity always puts pressure on prices. On the export front, Eastern European countries are particularly keen to buy. The Italians, who have suffered from the drought, are also paying close attention and will undoubtedly be in the game. The Spaniards, who seem to be better provided for, are timidly starting to buy unwashed, but are discussing prices. Have a great season!

Publication author: Yves Le Bouëdec – J. Lévesque SARL Potato market chronicle July 2021 All market chronicles It’s already July, who’d believe it? The capricious weather is making us doubt the start of summer. These temperature swings are disrupting tuber development.For early potatoes, this is true for practically all terroirs.Offers of Spanish and Portuguese washable products abound, with varying degrees of quality. However, they are preferable to old French batches. French products The transition to early French produce with ripe skin takes place at the end of the first dekad of July. Sporting harvesting conditions determine the right price. The first firm red flesh is in demand.All these factors contributed to a good flow of early produce, while awaiting the new conservation harvest. For the latter, rainy spells have favored growth and should, barring climatic accidents, augur well for a good harvest. Potatoes adapt to all seasons As far as seed potatoes are concerned, the increase in plantings may seem problematic in terms of sales, especially as an increase in sea freight, export pallets and bags leads to a significant mechanical rise in the final price. In many cases, our customers did not receive any tourists this year because of Covid. However, aphid thefts have been significant, and we’ll have to wait for the results of pre-culture tests to quantify which batches are suitable for sale. In the meantime, I wish you all the best for your vacations, and don’t forget that potatoes can be enjoyed in any way, in any season!

Publication author: Silvana Paolozzi – Ets Jacques Albert Potato market chronicle May 2021 All market chronicles We’ve come to the end of a year that has been, over the long term, very difficult and not very fluid: the sanitary restrictions, the closure of restaurants, the absence of all events and festivities, all of which have had a heavy impact on us.With the lifting of these restrictions over the past few weeks, there is renewed hope that we will at last be able to return to a healthier, more normal commercial environment. For the time being, purchases from industry are intensifying and prices are rising. France and Europe: the market On the export front, the end of the campaign is making itself felt, and Italy and Eastern Europe are not buying. Sowing is almost complete, in good conditions but cold temperatures. Potatoes imported from Egypt and Israel are fetching good prices thanks to strong demand from Italy and Spain, countries that don’t usually buy. In France, we could be selling more right now, but we’re sorely lacking in quality potatoes. The demand is there, but the Italians and Spaniards are only looking for top-quality products, and we’re suffering to sell potatoes that this year have many defects. Admittedly, the withdrawal of the CIPC and the time needed to adapt to the new antigerminants have something to do with this. But perhaps we need to pay more attention, because without quality, we’re losing volumes as well as our historic customers, and can’t claim prices that cover production costs. Into the unknown for the future of the market The NEPG is announcing a 3 to 5% drop in plantings, the first year in a long time that these have always risen. We can only hope for a good recovery and better conditions for the coming campaign.

Publication author: Jérôme Bonnier – J B Grains SARL Potato market chronicle March 2021 All market chronicles France, under the guise of Covid, has just proved locavores right. Far from all the indigestible standards, producers and consumers are discovering each other. Direct sales from vending machines, farm stores and city stores are becoming essential marketers. Let’s produce local, sell local, eat local; if possible, organic and year-round. Even if we can’t grow everything everywhere all year round. Last year at this time, we were bursting at the seams with unsold stock. Trucks in dispute every day Then Covid came along and we experienced collapses and recoveries. And let’s not forget the change in antigerminants, with growers lost with the new products wreaking havoc on storage. Fridges are running at full capacity to hold a potato that is aging very badly. Trucks are in dispute every day. Buyers are doing their best to meet the ever-increasing demands. With all these changes, the industry is struggling to find its feet. All the producers who supply the French fries segment are running low on stock. With Covid, organic production volumes are in surplus. Local authorities have to serve part of their meals organically, but if it’s confined, it’s not consumed… In supermarkets, sales are almost identical to last year, if not slightly higher. In step with confinements Our Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and German customers are also switching to local produce. We only receive very occasional requests for specific products. The tare rates applied are very high on certain batches. Many damaged potatoes are cleared. After a slight upturn and a few hedge buy-backs, Belgian and Dutch manufacturers are now back in the doldrums. The flake market is completely saturated. Egypt and Israel will start harvesting around mid-April. Planting in France’s primeur regions is underway. The first Breton flakes should arrive around June 1st. Let’s be positive: we’re expecting demand to overheat when all the gathering places reopen. But when?

Publication author: Frédéric Laviron – Roussineau SA Potato market chronicle January 2021 All market chronicles The pandemic is not without consequences for our potato market. The out-of-home catering sector is on life support, with the main consequence that processing plants are slowing down. Difficulties in sourcing and applying substitute products The MINs are also slowing down, leaving only the supermarkets to market our potatoes. Households have reverted to their usual purchasing habits after the 1st confinement craze, and continue to prefer “pan-fried” ready meals. This imbalance leads to a constant demand for 1st category washable products and an amorphous market for second choice and non-washable products, with French operators working to respond favorably to the demands of mass retailers, whether in terms of quality or for the numerous promotions. Our export markets continue to be marked by the same demand, and prospects for sales of basic products to Eastern Europe remain slim. Marketing is made all the more delicate by the discontinuation of CIPC, and the difficulties in sourcing and applying the products that replace it, leading to a more rapid deterioration in sanitary and physiological condition in storage (mechanical damage and germs). The future of the market So what does the future hold? While a certain increase in the price of 1st category products is unavoidable in the short term, it should remain limited by the price of the basic washable product, for which there is currently little demand. Although average, our production remains sufficient, even surplus, given the limited supermarket market. I hope that 2021 will lead us to more peaceful paths and more fluid markets. On behalf of the brokers’ union, I would like to wish you and your loved ones an excellent New Year.

Publication author: Christelle Denis – SARL D.Vegetables Potato market chronicle November 2020 All market chronicles At the beginning of November, this second confinement feels like a step backwards. Unlike the 1st containment, the consumer buying frenzy has not returned. Export sales are relatively calm, due to normal production levels, particularly in Central Europe; the reconfinement of all our European neighbors is having an impact on our exports, as they are giving priority to their domestic production in the context of this health crisis. Unclear market visibility Quality is not completely up to scratch either; our Spanish customers are very keen on quality 8 ware potatoes and are putting pressure on prices, but most of them are not satisfied with France’s visual quality (dartrose, sprouting…). Market visibility in this context of crisis is rather hazy; we’re sailing in the fog with uncertainties about the reopening of restaurants and bars, which are an important customer for wholesalers! In-store consumption is not very active, and the “promotions” that have been set up mean that the packing centers are working in fits and starts, making it difficult to get organized. Absences are multiplying due to the coronavirus, and this is a new parameter to juggle with! Potatoes adapt to all seasons What’s more, won’t the end of the CIPC force us to reduce the shelf life of ware potatoes? What will happen to quality between now and April? Is this the end of the 10-month smooth marketing of ware potatoes? This will be a year of transition in many respects, but the industry has always shown solidarity and strength in defending the French potato!

Publication author: Yves Le Bouëdec – J. Lévesque SARL Potato market chronicle July 2020 All market chronicles What a year! And what can we say, so many buying habits have been turned upside down by the health crisis the world is undergoing. The state of health emergency ends on July 10, but the economic machine is slowly getting back into gear, while professional meetings have been cancelled. As far as the market for our tuber is concerned, we’re still having to cope with the lack of sales of potatoes for the French fries industry. Our European neighbors The context for early production is different from last year, with supply from our Spanish, Portuguese and Italian neighbors still half that of France. However, supermarkets are keen to source French products that are traceable and less carbon-intensive. While supply remained relatively limited until around July 20, after that, the numerous early plantings in various basins are likely to change the situation. No shortage of potatoes forecast There will probably be no shortage of ware potatoes again this year. With the exception of certain regions in the Hauts-de-France, the weather has been kind to us with plenty of rain. For seed potato production, aphid flights were high in northern France. Purification in the field is necessary. However, some downgrading of plots is to be expected.