Warehouses full, coffers empty: potato prices plummet due to excess supply. A farmer from Lower Saxony came across drastic words.
Lower Saxony is currently showing the impact of oversupply on the market. Farmer Christian Schridde from the region had to dump around 400 tonnes of potatoes into a biogas plant. “This year is the year of the greatest disaster,” he said. “For me, sending food to biogas plants is a disaster.”
No market, no buyers
Potato prices have fallen to historic lows. According to the Chamber of Agriculture, in many places they no longer even cover production costs. The reasons were high yields and expansion of cultivated areas: excess supply led to falling prices. Dealers had announced in the summer that they would no longer accept excess amounts. “There are potatoes on every corner. Everyone offers them for an apple and eggs.” Economic sectors that were once stable are now under pressure. Many companies are thinking about making cuts or even quitting.
Lack of understanding about imports
Schridde was annoyed that foreign potatoes continued to dominate trade. “Sometimes I don’t understand why we have to have Egyptian potatoes in German supermarkets all year round. Or new potatoes from Israel in February.” Although internally displaced persons camps are full, political support is still lacking. “Nobody wants German farmers any more,” says the 42-year-old. Most importantly, Schridde urges customers: “You should not always buy cheap potatoes, but prefer regional potatoes.”
