Inside: Potato Market
Potatoes in Belgium still below average
Although the potato fields in Belgium have been able to make a significant growth spurt after the rain in recent weeks, the multi-year average is still not being achieved. This is evident from the most up-to-date figures from the PCA, published at the end of week 34.
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Choose the subscription that suits youAfter just over 130 growing days, an average of 46 tons per hectare is sampled for Fontane. That is 4 tons less than the average of the 4 previous years. This amounts to an average growth of 840 kilos per day per hectare.
The moderate summer weather ensures that the Fontanes still have good growth potential (average OWG 370 grams), so that the 4-year average should be achievable. On average across Belgium (including Wallonia), 45 tonnes per hectare are sampled for the Fontane variety in mid-August.
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Fontane's results. Source: PCA
Bintje shows the same
The same picture, in terms of growth, has been visible at Bintje in recent weeks. On average, the Bintje crops grew 580 kilos per hectare per day in recent weeks (more than 8 tons per hectare in 2 weeks). The average yield in week 34 is 41 tons. That is still 7 tons per hectare below the 10-year average and the lowest figure in previous years.
The fact is that the Bintje crops are generally still fresh. On average over 10 years, ripening was 58% after the same number of growing days, compared to 33% in the current growing season. Including Wallonia, the average yield for Bintje per hectare now amounts to 45 tons.
Bintje's results. Source: PCA