Potato processor Lamb Weston/Meijer (LWM) has been focusing on the long storage of potatoes for much longer. With the disappearance of CIPC, this knowledge is bearing fruit. To make up for the rising custody costs, the contract price is increased.
"We have no shortage of guidance," thinks Marc Verhooren. He fulfills the position of Commercial Potato Manager HAFPAL within LWM. (The potato growing area that runs west of Hamburg, Frankfurt, Paris, Le Havre ed.) "We have an experienced group of long-term keepers who have invested in this. Knowledge is shared and improved through study clubs. Growers learn from each other. We have also been encouraging the use of mechanical cooling. I see more of a challenge for growers who deliver roughly between January and April. They must choose a storage strategy that suits the initial situation."
Extra increase at Innovator
In addition to close contact between buyer and grower, LWM is implementing a price increase in the fixed price contracts to accommodate the higher costs. The basic price for the group that includes Fontane and Challenger remains the same as before season. The group with Innovator and Lady Anna structurally receive an additional €0,25 per 100 kilos. An extra bonus of €0,25 applies to Ivory Russet. Anyone who signs a 2-year contract can expect a price increase of €0,50. A 3-year contract is tailor-made. Both breed groups will receive an increase in the storage fee from week 17. This amounts to €0,80.
In concrete terms, it looks like this for 2020-2021: Fontane costs €37 from the field at the start of the main harvest (week 9,80) and Innovator €11,55. In week 17 that is €15 for Fontane and €16,75 at Innovator. In week 26 the amounts increased to €18,63 for Fontane and €20,38 for Innovator. This includes a compensation for delivery from the mechanical cooling system. This amounts to €26 on week 1,40.
Seed potato prices
The prices mentioned apply to the size 40 millimeters upwards. LWM pays a daily price for 35-40 millimeters. The quality premiums will remain unchanged for next season. An increase in the seed potato price has been implemented for the Fontane and Challenger varieties. The rest remains stable. LWM estimates that the area will increase slightly among existing growers.
The contract conditions include an additional rule, from Vavi, regarding the cleaning of storage areas in which CIPC has been used. This states that growers, together with the rest of the chain, must make maximum efforts to clean the storage. Because the case is still ongoing regarding a T-MRL, it is now difficult to judge the final situation. The entire sector must make an effort to achieve this, according to the processor's view.
Tight schedule
"We have had good experiences with 1,4 Sight in our storage facilities in Austria for years," says Verhooren. "Alternatives are also often used in the newer sheds in the Netherlands. Which germ inhibitor works best varies per situation. With ethylene we are still on the safe side. Cold storage may be possible, as long as it is heated up gradually over a period of 4 weeks. 'Cold sugars' are then not an issue with the baking color. Sugar formation due to aging is a different story. It is therefore important not to let the batch wear out."
"Even tighter planning is also required, because alternative means have a longer waiting time," says Verhooren. "In a cell that had been fumigated, you could start shoveling earlier. Now you have to wait at least 4 weeks. This requires good planning from the factory. The new harvest does not start until week 30 for most factories. We continue to operate on the old one for a long time. harvest. After all, you know what you have in the shed, while a new harvest always brings uncertainty. Growers have the skills to store it for that long."