A challenging potato quality, also on the Flevoland clay soils, made it difficult for Flevopool to get the most out of the market. Category 2, where the pool likes to sell its product, has strict requirements. The unique Variopool does provide a plus in the price.
For the 2015 harvest, Flevopool started the so-called 'Variopool'. According to pool chairman Jan Dirk Tonkens, this is unique in the market. Variopool means that the grower decides how much product can be pre-sold. The maximum percentage is 30% of the total number of hectares. The minimum is 0%. Anyone who wants to sell more comes to the Tonnenpool. This has a maximum of 40 tons per hectare.
Futures market
Flevopool uses the potato futures market as an instrument to get more out of the market. Affiliated growers deposit money for the futures market trade and receive 7% interest on it. “We are a real growers' association. From farmers, for farmers,” Tonkens emphasizes. “Everyone benefits from achieving the highest price, which is returned to the farmer. That is why we are completely independent.” Thanks to the financial contribution, Flevopool can sell on the futures market during the summer months, when effective sales are often not possible.
Hoping for more
For delivery in week 13, Flevopool pays €24,14 per 100 kilos for Agria. For Marquis this is €24,02, for Innovator and Fontane €23,27 and for Ramos and Lady Anna €22,07 per 100 kilos. All prizes are realized in the pool without pre-sales. This results in an average balance of €23,37 compared to €17,81 last year. The realized price over 6 years is €15,04 for delivery in week 13. “Growers were satisfied at the members' meeting of July 3, but had of course hoped for more,” the chairman explains. “The quality made it difficult to sell all the potatoes for the highest price. Out of necessity, more has been placed in category 1. Due to the difficult harvesting conditions, there were many lots with too much harvesting damage and blue. There were also parties with many growth cracks. Many potatoes are forced to be irrigated in order to be able to harvest them. The structure of the soil was already poor from the spring.”
Clay soil withstands drought
Tonkens is cautious with his predictions about the current growing season and the coming harvest. “It is still very dry in the south of the Benelux. You also have to deal with the French fries industry and their unabated demand for potatoes,” he paints the picture. “At the moment the harvest does not look optimal, looking at the south of the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France. I agree with the futures market and how it moves. The situation is not the worst on clay soil. These soils are dedicated and the yield is more even. I expect the most damage from sand and loess soils. You notice that the demand for clay potatoes continues to exist. They are very popular.”
New growing area
In April Q-Potato made known to merge with Flevopool. This company already acts as commission agent for the pool. The company from Lemmer's own potato pool will be added to Flevopool for the 2017 harvest. This means that the cultivation area is expanding from Flevoland to the southwestern clay area. According to Tonkens, this expansion fits within the strategy used by the pool.