The Greek potato campaign is nearing a rather early end. According to Mr. Iosif Kokkinidis, representative of the Producers’ Organization Agroteam Perithori from Nevrokopi, the most important potato-growing region in Greece, the end will come two months earlier than usual: “Normally, potato stocks from Nevrokopi last until the end of February, but this time it is uncertain if potatoes will be available by the end of 2024. This is because of the reduced cultivation area. From 1.700 hectares last season, it has now fallen to half of that. There’s also a significant lack of water available. Growers find it difficult to sustain their crops.”
As Mr. Kokkinidis describes, the past summer’s drought and abnormally high temperatures add to the season’s complications: “Because of the extreme heat, potatoes started to sprout earlier than usual and this had repercussions on the storage durability of the product. So, the sales started quite hastily. Fortunately, there was also high demand, so there was no problem finding markets. We see that yellow varieties meet more demand than the white ones. Yellow potatoes are bought mostly by wholesalers, while white are bought by super markets.”
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As for the exports, the Balkan buyers of Greek potatoes prefer a cheap product, FreshPlaza informs. “Their priority is the price. So, they buy smaller potatoes, sizes 25-45. In Balkan countries we see strong competition from Poland, but we also face pressure from German and French potatoes in Greece,” says the representative of Agroteam Perithori.
However, once more the weather poses the greatest challenge. Mr. Kokkinidis stresses: “We should already be experiencing temperatures below zero, but the weather is warm. Nevrokopi is known for its extremely cold weather and, for this reason, local packers had invested in warm warehouses. Now, due to the climate change, warm warehouses turn to be a handicap. This puts pressure on us to sell more quickly. Fortunately, we see stable demand and prices. However, we have to switch to cold warehouses. We, like many other packers, have started this process.”
Finally, regarding prices, the current season’s EWX price average stands at 0,52 euros/kg. “This is a high price, but the post-harvest expenses are high as well. So, I wouldn’t say that packers can be completely satisfied so far. For sure, this average is going to increase, since the small stocks are going to be sold at higher prices,” Mr. Kokkinidis concludes.
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