The seed potato area of the French fries potato variety Fontane has beaten that of the export variety Spunta for the first time. This is apparent from the declaration figures of the NAK inspection service. Both varieties are thus continuing their trend. The growth in French fries varieties costs hectares for the export varieties.
"Just a little while and the chip varieties will put Spunta on the sidelines," was the headline Boerenbusiness last year. The NAKdeclaration figures prove for 2018 that this is actually the case. For the first time, more hectares of starting material of chip potato varieties are being grown than export varieties.
Slight growth
The total area of seed potatoes is growing slightly this season, by 620 hectares to 41.740 hectares. It is a growth of 1,5%. This means that the increase in area is slightly smaller than in 2017. The trends in the areas per variety continue. In short, this means: more high-yielding chip varieties, fewer Spuntas and Bintjes.
The declared area of Fontane this year amounts to 4.467 hectares, an increase of more than 200 hectares or 5%. This makes the chip potato larger than the export variety Spunta for the first time. This variety again loses hectares and reaches 4.460 hectares, a minus of 425 hectares or 9%. In 2017, Spunta also suffered a hit of 14%. The popularity of this potato seems to have finally come to an end.
The Bintje variety was also severely decimated last season by 19%. This season the reduction is slightly smaller, by more than 16%. That is good for 134 hectares. Other veterans, such as Desiree and Ramos, are also losing ground.
Big 4
The share of 'the big 4' (Fontane, Agria, Innovator and Challenger) will increase by 7% this season. They all add extra hectares to their name and they all exceed 1.000 hectares. This is the first time for Challenger. Their share now amounts to more than 10.000 hectares. That was almost 2017 hectares in 9.500. Marquis, number 5, is also good for a small plus.
What is also striking is the share of ATR seed potatoes in the declaration figures. The new number 1: Fontane, also accounts for the largest ATR share. This will amount to 376 hectares. Agria sits on 180 hectares and Innovator on almost 150 hectares. Agria, which is now license-free in the Netherlands, is growing by 100 hectares this season.
table potatoes
Some Lady varieties from trading house Meijer Potato are also doing well; especially Lady Claire and Lady Rosetta. Table potato and export variety Arizona from Agrico is also a relatively large one in the list with 900 hectares, just like Fabula with 850 hectares. Agata sits on 780 hectares and Colomba on 620 hectares. In the table potato segment, these are relatively small shifts.