Due to the second consecutive hot summer season, the potato crop in Germany is threatened with serious losses, which will negatively affect its value. Such forecasts were presented in the Union of Vegetable, Fruit and Potato Processing Industry (BOGK), writes the newspaper Bild.
According to the head of the Khostra-Peter Karos union, such a scenario is possible if there is no rain this month. In spring and summer, their monthly level was not higher than the average weekly. Also, the water table dropped to a minimum of just over 10 centimeters. Over the past year, German potato growers have already harvested the lowest crop in 28 years at 8,7 million tons, this year it may fall to eight at best, to 7,5 million at worst.
This year, prices for potatoes have already risen in North Rhine-Westphalia, where in July they cost a third more than in the same month last year. In the future, one and a half or two-fold increase in value is expected in this and a number of other federal states. Also, because of this situation, not only potato growers, but also processors and fast food producers may suffer. For example, the former will have to reject a significant part of the crop, and the latter will not be able to receive large sticks for the production of French fries, which will make the products look less aesthetically pleasing and will greatly lose demand. In addition, potato growers and processors will lose half of their profits.
Source: https://rosng.ru