The Producers Organization for Consumer Potatoes (POC) has received official recognition from the government. With that, the recruitment of members can start. According to Keimpe van der Heide, the current situation in the chip market underlines the importance of acting quickly on this.
"The current market situation for French fries potatoes is worrying," says Keimpe van der Heide, involved in the formation of the POC on behalf of the Dutch Arable Farming Union (NAV). According to him, the area plays a role in this. "It would be wise if growers limit the area in 2021, but the existing trade organizations are not allowed to give anti-competitive advice. Something that a recognized producer organization is allowed to do."
Stronger position
That has been the motivation for establishing the POC from the start. Initiator NAV, together with the United Growers Arable Farming (VTA), did the planning revealed. The organization's starting point is a stronger position for potato growers. "With the recognition we have now received from the Ministry of Agriculture, we can start working on that."
We are currently working hard behind the scenes to separate the organization from the NAV. A separate board has been formed that orientates and deals with the POC spearheads. In the meantime, it is important to recruit as many members as possible, Van der Heide indicates. According to him, that process has been delayed somewhat due to the corona outbreak. "We now have almost 100 members. There should be many more, but you have to start somewhere."
Ball has to start rolling
When 20 to 30% of the Dutch potato area has been accommodated, the POC really starts to take shape and influence. "We saw this during a study trip with our American colleagues. We are now working enthusiastically towards that share, so that the ball will start rolling. Growers are currently still a bit hesitant, but the faster we have volume together, the better."
Current regulations prescribe that a producer organization may not completely exclude competition. The POC takes this into account. "Our example, the POV (Producent Organization for Pig Farming, ed.), has brought together approximately 70% of the pig farmers in the Netherlands. We inquired whether this excludes competition, but according to the government this is not the case."
Target Northwestern Europe
The POC has included ten objectives in its articles of association. This could include joint promotion and advice for growers, but especially market regulation. "Trying to match supply to demand for better price development," Van der Heide explains. Something that, given the international playing field, should not actually be limited to the Netherlands, he admits. "A union of producer organizations, uniting producers in Northwestern Europe, is therefore the ultimate goal."