The harvest of new Spanish potatoes for De Aardappelhoeve has recently begun. “The first shipments have left our Spanish growers for Belgium,” says Bart Nemegheer of the Tielt-based potato company. “The quality looks very good, but due to an exceptionally wet spring, yields will be significantly lower than average.”
“In southern Spain, from Cartagena to Seville, there was exceptionally high rainfall this spring—up to 800 liters per square meter—causing extensive damage,” the trader explained. “In some areas, fields were plowed under because they were completely ruined by excess water. Naturally, this has impacted yields, which are much lower than average. Still, the quality appears good. There is still some rain in Spain, but now it is more balanced, similar to what we need in Belgium to counter drought. The lower volumes from Spain are due to stable acreage, but the potatoes themselves are of good quality, with strong tuber formation. However, the size grading will be slightly finer.”
Is the market anticipating the Spanish supply as eagerly as last year? “No, it’s a completely different market this year. Last year, there was strong demand for Spanish potatoes, but now we see that prices for the old crop have recently dropped sharply. People are therefore trying to minimize imports. As long as there is enough quality supply in Belgium, we will continue offering Belgian products in supermarkets. For now, we are building up volume from Spain in cold storage, and once we have a sufficient buffer, we will switch to early Spanish potatoes around mid to late May. Consistency of supply is essential once we begin.”
It’s time for rain in Belgium
However, the trader expects a smooth transition between seasons. “I believe that once we start, supply and demand will balance well. In the past, Spain imported large quantities from Israel and Egypt, focusing less on its own supply. But now, Spanish retailers are increasingly relying on domestic products, leading to stronger local sales. I expect that whatever is available will be smoothly absorbed by the European market. Due to an early spring, we will also see a new supply from Germany and Belgium quickly. We were able to plant early, and with the warm weather, crops have emerged rapidly. We could see Belgian and German potatoes as early as mid-July, and I expect a good connection between these supplies.”
Bart is concerned about how long the drought in Belgium will last. “So far, it has been a good spring. We started early, but it has only gotten drier since then, which is becoming a concern. We had almost no rain in April, and May has been similarly dry. That is quite unusual. The persistent northeast wind is making conditions even drier. We are eagerly awaiting the first rain showers, but for now, none are expected. On the contrary, temperatures are set to rise again next week. Water is also scarce in the region, so rain is urgently needed. We can already see the effects on beans, which are not being sown due to the drought. Onions and shallots are also in urgent need of water. There is no reason to panic yet for potatoes, but tuber formation will soon begin, and water will become essential. We will have to wait and see because we cannot control nature.”
For more information:
Bart Nemegheer
De Aardappelhoeve 
Putterijstraat 7A
8700 Tielt (Belgium)
Tel: +32 (0)477 29 17 84
[email protected]
www.deaardappelhoeve.be
www.thepotatochef.com
