Potato News from Europe

Bavarian potato harvest at its peak, consumers can expect good quality

Seed potato growers and traders are facing mounting frustration as wet weather continues to interrupt the harvest across Scotland.

With worldwide demand for potato products continuing to grow, TOMRA Sorting Food is supporting potato processors by launching an enhanced sorting solution which removes more than 98 percent of all typical foreign objects found in product streams after washing and peeling.

Potato growers in Hungary are in a tough position as potato prices are low. On top of that, yield has been negatively affected by heat and quality is far from optimal.

Ukrainian potato starch manufacturer PPCE-VIMAL is currently constructing a potato processing plant in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Production is scheduled to start in September 2018.

Equipment Manufacturer Tummers Food Processing Solutions has announced the appointment of a new managing director, Lennaert van Dijk, who assumed his new position on September 1, 2017.

Ten Dutch potato (processing) companies and two associations have established Holland Innovative Potato (HIP) to facilitate and coordinate joint pre-competitive research activities. A budget of € 4.5 million is available for the first research program of HIP.

With the acquisition of popcorn producer Cornpoppers Ltd, Kettle Foods takes the next step in transforming the company into a dynamic European snack foods business

Sormac has introduced a new MS-30 knife peeler suitable for potatoes and other root crops, featuring a 3-metre long drum making it a great fit for production lines with a higher processing capacity.

Processing Equipment manufacturer Bühler celebrated the ground breaking for its Innovation Campus in Uzwil, Switzerland. Completion of the building is expected for the first quarter of 2019.

Belgium potato chip manufacturer Roger & Roger invests €10 million (USD 12 million) in Croky Plant

For the current European potato harvest, the North-western-European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimate the total potato production at 27.9 million tons for the five NEPG countries (Belgium, Germany, France, The Netherlands and Great Britain). This is up 13.5 percent compared to last season.

The Dutch Potato Industry is introducing PotatoNL, a national potato quotation. The first PotatoNL national potato quotation will start on 14 November 2017

Op basis van proefrooiingen en praktijkresultaten verwacht de NEPG een totale oogst van 27,9 miljoen ton aan consumptieaardappelen in Noord-west Europa. Dat is 13,5% hoger dan vorig jaar.

Despite the cancellation of the first day of Potato Europe (Wednesday) and the less then perfect weather on Thursday, the 270 exhibitors were able to welcome around 10,000 visitors, just on the Thursday

VDH Concept, a Belgian company specialized in retail packaging for potatoes, vegetables and fruit, has recently introduced SQ Pack, packaging with a net structure perforation.

On Thursday 14 September, Agrico participated in a rainy Potato Europe in Emmeloord. Agrico celebrated its latest results together with its affiliated growers

Dewulf now unveils Torro, its long-awaited trailed 2-row sieving potato harvester with haulm conveyor, flat hedgehog units and bunker.