Malta Harvests First New Potatoes
Altena Potatoes recently reported it has begun harvesting new potatoes in Malta. “It is currently a very exciting potato market. The washer is working overtime and the supply to the retail sector is going very fast. I expect that it will be difficult to find washer suitable potatoes. On the other hand, the fries industry and the catering industry are at a loss,” said Kees Schouten, general manager of Altena Potatoes.
He added that “exports to Eastern Europe are also going very well. Now I hope we can also supply them with chip potatoes.” The potato trader expects the Maltese potatoes next Wednesday or Thursday to reach the Netherlands.
Schouten expects the harvest to go in line with last year’s numbers, but he predicts some disruption to happen because the workers from Central Europe who normally harvest, will stay at home.
“In these turbulent times it is difficult to estimate how the market will react to the new potatoes. Of course, the weather has not yet been good, but fortunately it is brightening up again this week. Prices of the old harvest are now rising, so I expect there will be a market for the new potatoes,” he concludes.
