As in previous years, potato processor Clarebout Potatoes is the first to sign the contracts for the 2017 harvest. With this, Belgium's largest French fries producer sets the tone.
Roughly speaking, it increases Clarebout the fixed price contracts with one euro. In the off-farm period (mid-September to mid-October) they pay 11 euros per 100 kg for Fontane. The Belgians offer 10 euros for Bintje. Challenger has a price of 11,05 euros.
In the second half of October, prices are slightly higher and the difference between the varieties increases slightly; 11,80 euros for Fontane and 10,30 euros for Bintje. In the first week of November, an additional amount will be added so that Fontane amounts to 12 euros. During the entire month of December, the price for Fontane is 12,50 euros and 10,70 euros for Bintje.
Then spring; Fontane growers can expect to receive 15,10 euros in the first half of April, while 14,35 euros will be paid out for Challenger and 13,60 euros for Bintje. The latter can count on a price of 14 euros at the end of April. Challenger is then at 14,75 euros and Fontane at 15,50 euros.
The expectation is that the other chip factories will soon follow.