The French potato harvest is lower than last year. The country turns out to be the white raven among the potato-growing countries in Europe.
The potato yield in France amounts to 5,85 million tons, which is 10% less than last year. In that year the harvest amounted to 6,5 million tons. The fact that the yield has fallen by 'only' 10% is mainly due to a considerable increase in acreage (+3,6%) to 142.710 hectares.
Lower hectare yields
The average hectare yield (gross) amounts to 41 tons per hectare, which is 13% less than last year. The UNPT notes in this regard that net revenues are lower due to, among other things, washing-through problems. Yet the country suffered the least from last summer's drought. The yield per hectare is even higher than in 2016.
The yield was disappointing in the largest French potato areas. This concerns, for example, Nord-Pas-de-Calais (-11,6%) and Picardy (-10,6%). In Normandy, the yield fell the most, with a minus of 26%.
France benefits
Despite the lower yields, France can benefit from the low yields in the rest of Europe. These are on average another 10% to 15% lower than in France. For example, an estimate by AHDB showed that the potato harvest in England is 18,9% lower than last year (4,9 million tons). In the Netherlands the yield is 23% less.