Participating growers of the VTA stock inventory for ware potatoes have 12% fewer potatoes in stock than the average. This is 14,3% less than last season. A similar percentage of potatoes was delivered, but due to the smaller harvest, the barns were less full in mid-February.
VTA carried out a second inventory round for ware potatoes on the reference date of February 15. This shows that a third of all potatoes have now been delivered and 57% have been sold. These are figures that are in line with the five-year average. Because yields are 12% lower than the multi-year average - due to a combination of less acreage and fewer tons - there is another side to the story.
Less delivered, less sold
In absolute tonnes, growers delivered 10% less. These companies have 14% less stock in stock – compared to last year – and that is 12% compared to the five-year average. Slightly fewer potatoes were sold than last year. The free stock in mid-February was 8,5% below last season and below the multi-year average.
Good quality
Parties that had to deal with quality problems have already disappeared from the yard, VTA has noticed. Potatoes in storage are carefully monitored and, if in doubt, loaded. The quality figures therefore look good.
A third inventory round among growers will be conducted by VTA in April. Every year, a permanent group of growers are questioned about how many potatoes they have in stock.