Potato Review

40 POTATO REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 INTERNATIONAL NEWS NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE THE entry of French potatoes into Spain is complicating the final stretch of the national potato harvest as the prices of the washed and unwashed potatoes from Castilla y León and Salamanca are falling, owing to the increase in oƒer. Fresh Plaza reports that the Agria variety potatoes were sold for 12 cents per kilo in Salamanca, a price that barely covers their production cost, though this variety had worked well in previous seasons due to its great versatility. The Association of Potato Producers from Castilla y León recently stated that it would report the arrival of potatoes from France to the Potato Interprofessional, as this product normally entered the Spanish market in November. It wants the new body to inform the authorities of the damage that the entry of French potatoes is causing and has asked packers to respect the Spanish potato producers, which have been hit by the eƒects of the pandemic. “There shouldn’t be imports of French potatoes, at least until the potato from Castilla y León has ended,” the association stated. According to its latest report, the sack potato – of the Lucinda, Soprano, Monalisa varieties – is being paid at 7 to 12 cents per kilo; the Silvana and Fabula varieties are being paid at 7 and 8 cents per kilo; the non-washed Agria (the majority in Salamanca) between 13 and 16, and the washed Agria, at 18-20. Bumper rst time crop for charities Potatoacreage in Ukraine is growing THE potato acreage in the Ukraine has increased by 2.7% since 2015 to 1.33 million hectares in 2020, a new report has revealed. The past five years have seen the country’s acreage increase by 35,000 hectares, the report by the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), shows, with almost 14.825 million tons of potatoes being harvested from 948,700 hectares. Despite the large number of areas from which potatoes have already been harvested, the yield per hectare is low. For comparison, in 2018 the average yield in Ukraine was 16.76 tons per ha, in 2019 15.21 tons per ha, and in 2020 15.63 tons per ha. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic this year, along with unfavorable weather conditions, potato imports were also pretty high. In the first half of the year, potato imports amounted to 233,760 tons. Belarus is currently the main country- supplier of potatoes to Ukraine, accounting for almost 55.7% of all imported potatoes (130,330 tons). Its other main importers include Russia – 42,470 tons, the Netherlands – 31,220 tons , Egypt – 8,930 tons and Belgium – 8,150 tons. Economic hardship for Kenyan growers ALMOST 90% of Kenyan growers are suƒering financial hardship because of the impact of COVID-19. A new survey shows the pandemic has led to decreased demand for their produce, falling prices, and increasing costs for raw materials and supplies. The survey was carried out by 60 Decibels, a tech-enabled impact measurement company, working in over 40 countries. As many as one- third of Kenya’s farming households are in economic distress, according to 60 Decibels’ Vulnerability Index. French potatoes complicate Spanish season end A FIRST-TIME gardener in Edmonton, Canada, has turned a bumper crop into a windfall for local charities and plans to expand the project in coming years. Dave Benjestorf harvested nearly 100,000lb, which he gave to Edmontonians in need. “It’s just been a lightning rod at a time when everybody needs it,” he said in an interview with CTV News.