Van der Linde slims down the potato branch

Aardappelhandel Van der Linde BV will stop contracting for French fries potatoes, it was announced this week. The company from Emmeloord remains active in packaging, exporting and trading potatoes and carrots.

The potato market is changing and cultivation costs have risen enormously in recent years. "Both growers and processors try to cover part of their risk," says Eric van der Linde Boerenbusiness. "With our contracts, we took on part of the price risk on both sides. Because cultivation costs have risen so much and thus also contract prices, we have come to the conclusion that the risks for us as a company are becoming too great to handle at the current rate. to go on."

Tough decision
With the current contract prices of €25 or more, the room downwards has become too large to always be able to support this financially, according to Van der Linde. We always had participation contracts, which was really our showpiece. We have four branches within our family business and we are saying goodbye to one." The decision to stop the chip potato contracts was not taken lightly. "Our grandfather started the chip potato business and for some of our customers I am the third generation to take over. the floor comes. But ultimately it's a business decision."

The current contracts for the 2023 harvest are being completed as agreed and Lamb Weston, Van der Linde's regular customer, would like to continue with the growers.

Jurphaas Lugtenburg

He is a market specialist in grains and other agricultural commodities at DCA Market Intelligence. He also focuses on onions, potatoes, and roughage. Jurphaas also runs an arable farm in Voorne-Putten (South Holland).

j.lugtenburg @boerenbusiness. Nl

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