BEAUCE:

Currently, the potato harvest in Beauce is now in full performance, however, as we have already said in previous articles, we can confirm a production drop, specially for firm flesh potatoes where we can see a fall of more than 15 %.

It should be pointed that, regarding early potatoes (like Agata), performance is very variable, but not negative, despite the fact that it is lower in many plots. The Agata harvest in Beauce will be finished in around 10 days.

CHAMPAGNE:

Harvest in Champagne has started too. The first weeks were quite weak but the production has been getting stronger over the days.

The performance shows some heterogeneity, but it seems good or even very good depending on the plot, specially in Aube. For its part, in Marne there is a feeling of inferiority in relation to Aube.

OTHER REGIONS:

In the north and in Seine Maritime non-irrigated plots awaken some worries on producers. They estimate harvests will be between 25 and 40 tonnes approximately, but those number can improve if weather is favourable during the next weeks.

In Calais there have been losses of between 5 and 15 % in relation to last year, even in irrigated plots.

It is being in general a really dry and hot summer, not only for France but for all Europe. We have to keep in mind that, in the north of Europe, many plots are not irrigated because rain is usually plentiful, but, unfortunately, this year has been different. This situation is really alarming for the industry market, since many of the plots that supply it are non-irrigated. This implies transactions of 250-300 euros for varieties set aside for chips or crisps on the free market. Those numbers are over the ones you can see in consumption market.