'The availability of seed potatoes is disappointing for many,' said Jan van Hoogen, director of Agrico, at the 2018 variety show. The buyers are therefore prepared to pay high amounts for the seed potatoes.
Van Hoogen says that in the 30 years that he has worked at Agrico he has never experienced such a special and exciting year. "The high demand for our varieties (greater than before) coincides with significantly lower availability this season. That makes it exciting."
The director expects the yield in the early varieties to be around 30% to 40% less is. He assumes a decrease of approximately 5% to 10% for French fries potatoes. "Sales this year are a matter of divide and conquer. We are trying to distribute the seed potatoes as best as possible among all buyers."
'Buyers are willing to pay'
Due to the fact that there is less seed potato available, buyers are prepared to pay high amounts. "They want the seed potatoes no matter what. Indecently high amounts are paid," says Van Hoogen.
The situation is different in the French fries segment, in which Agrico is relatively large. After all, the contracts there are already determined in advance. “We are the first to complete the contracts we have with processing,” reports the director. "Despite the fact that the contracts are fixed in advance, the payment price will increase because the prices in the supply contracts are not fixed everywhere."
Van Hoogen also states that Agria, for example, is also widely exported. "It is true that with Fontane you never get the highest price, but also never the lowest price. This is because we can plan the area in advance."
Availability of Fontane
Van Hoogen is clear about the availability of the Fontane variety. "We do have fewer tons. However, because the seed potatoes are finer, we will fill the hectares." Agrico would have liked to continue Fontane's growth this year, but this was not possible due to the drought. "Fontane already has the maximum acreage in the Netherlands, but we want to expand especially in France."
Agrico is also focusing on French fries varieties, because this is a more stable market (compared to the export market). According to the director, yields are important in the chip variety segment. "The replacement for Agria, the Babylon variety, has very good yields. Another high-yielding chip variety is the white-fleshed Prince variety."
Agrico is also working hard with a package of phytophthora-resistant varieties. "Carolus is now known as a phytophthora-resistant variety for the chip market and its acreage will grow in the coming years," Van Hoogen said. "A variety that will become big in the table potato segment is the Levante variety."
HZPC focuses on taste
"On the other hand, HZPC focuses on taste, both in the table and chip potato segments," says breeder Peter Vos of HZPC. This is also evident from the new chip variety that HZPC has introduced: Tiger. According to Vos, this variety has a good taste. "I expect this variety to become important in the French fries segment."
In addition, the new table potato variety 'La Vie' has also been taste-tested. "We no longer see potatoes only as a bulk product, but also as a seasoning. HZPC also focuses on varieties that are robust, as substances such as chlorine-IPC and neonicotinoids will soon expire," says Vos.