Potato growers in the American potato state of Washington are forced to put the cultivator in their potted potato fields. After the crop had already been planted, factories decided to reduce contracts, so growers are now switching to limit further financial damage.
Washington, together with the state of Idaho, is the largest producer of potatoes in the United States. At the moment, almost 500.000 tons of fries potatoes are still stored in the state. Potato growers give them free of charge away to empty their barns. However, that provides little relief, because the gigantic companies often still have thousands of tons lying around.
Drop on hot plate
The billion-dollar package of support for farmers in the US hardly helps growers. They are supported for a maximum of $125.000, while their costs run into the millions. They often already have large loans outstanding to finance the coming harvest. The sector - like other vegetable sectors - is asking the USDA agriculture ministry for a purchasing scheme.
In the meantime, the coming harvest is already in the ground. Some growers are taking drastic steps to prevent further damage. One of the growers who did that is Mike Pink, reported in the Los Angeles Times writes. He works almost 120 hectares to sow corn for cow feed. The chip manufacturer has reduced its contract by 50%. This concerns the Ranger Russet variety, which is only suitable for French fries potatoes. The market is more favorable for dual-purpose varieties.
End of business
Pink is not the only one with problems. Fellow grower Jordan Reed was also told that three-quarters of his contracts for Ranger Russet potatoes with 2 processors had been canceled after he had already planted them. The damage covers 150 hectares. However, the costs incurred are sky-high and he has no alternatives. He now estimates the damage at half a million dollars, which means the end of his company. Only a government scheme can therefore save the sector now.