Due to frequently erratic weather, the 2023 production campaign proceeded through every state after the rise in ware potato areas (+2.3%) noted in June. However, this allowed for some of the initial delays to be made up during the summer months due to mild and humid conditions.

After an exceptional summer climate shock during the 2022 harvest, 2023 allowed for a rebound to yield levels near the ten-year norm; nonetheless, the uprooting process was extremely difficult, and tubers are still un-uprooted in the Hauts-de-France basins as of January 11th, 2024.

The yield national gross for 2023 is 43.3 t/ha, based on the survey conducted using the Union Nationale des Producteurs de Pommes de Terre (UNPT) panel of producers and the aggregation of Agreste data for the basins that were not studied. Last year, 6.81m tons of ware potatoes were produced in France, up 12.7% from 2022.

“If it finds a level more in line with the historical potential of the France farm, it is part of a context of increased demand, particularly for industrial outlets, and announces a campaign where all potatoes will count again until the end of the campaign. Note that the yields surveyed within the panel are very heterogeneous depending on geographic sectors, varieties, and outlets,” UNPT experts concluded.