The largest area devoted to ware potatoes in over 25 years has also produced a record number of potatoes. Although growth wasn't strong everywhere in the Netherlands, the figures speak for themselves. This is evident from the preliminary harvest estimate from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
28-10: Article has been supplemented with information about the total harvest size.
The cultivation of ware potatoes increased by 8,6% this year to 83.100 hectares. This is the largest area in 25 years. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) estimates the preliminary yield at 4,4 million tons. This represents a substantial 37% increase, or 1,19 million tons, compared to last year, and even significantly more than the harvested area in 2017. Back then, the harvested area was 3,95 million tons, but the harvested area was 74.775 hectares, 8.325 hectares smaller. The final harvested area remains to be seen, as the harvest will continue for at least another two to three weeks.
High yield per hectare
The average yield per hectare for table potatoes is 53,5 tons. This is almost a quarter more than was harvested last year and also higher than in 2017, when the yield per hectare was 52,8 tons. Only in 2000 was it slightly higher, at 53,1 tons per hectare. A total of 4,46 million tons were harvested then. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has not yet published a breakdown of figures for starch and seed potatoes.
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports a figure for the total potato harvest size of 7,9 million tons. This figure also hasn't been this high since 2000, when it totaled 8,13 million tons. Since then, the 7 million tonne or higher mark has been reached in eight years. This means that the seed potato and starch potato segments together account for 3,45 million tons. That's 352.000 tons more than harvested last year, or 11%. Statistics Netherlands has not yet provided a breakdown between the two types.