Netherlands: Potato crisis in Overijssel: ’We can’t get rid of potatoes’

One of those companies is De Jonghe Leeuw in Wijhe. Owners and partners Annuska and Leo de Jongh de Leeuw don’t know where to put their potatoes now that they’re barely getting five cents per kilo. "The land is full of new harvest, but we don’t have any buyers yet," says Leo.The two companies operate on a so-called "free market price" basis and don’t have potato contracts. This means they don’t have regular buyers who buy potatoes from them for multiple years. "One year it’s advantageous, but sometimes it doesn’t work out so well."

Potato contract

De Jonghe Leeuw therefore collects the price the potatoes are worth at the time of sale. This year’s harvest will most likely yield a few cents per kilo. For comparison: a few years ago, in 2023, the same amount would have been worth around six euros per kilo."That’s also the risk of the profession, but it does hurt. It’s not the reason why you start growing," says De Jong de Leeuw.RTV Oost visited De Jonghe Leeuw in Wijhe. The article continues below the video.Potato surplus for growers without contracts: ’There’s no trade, you can’t sell them.’

Huge selection

According to the growers, the low potato price has several causes. First, supply exceeds demand. This is partly due to the large increase in potato growers abroad. Furthermore, this year’s harvest is very good and early, while many growers are still holding onto last year’s stock.To minimize risks, many farmers therefore cultivate under contract. This guarantees them a fixed purchase quantity at a fixed price for several years. Farmers who grow 100% for the open market are now exposed to greater financial risk.The farmer on the corner gets nothing for itArno Leusink, Leusink Potatoes in DeurningenThe current situation isn’t bad for every potato grower. Arno Leusink of Leusink Potatoes in Deurningen is actually reaping the benefits. He markets his potatoes directly on his own property, using a special self-service vending machine. He also has agreements with local restaurants and bars, among others."We sell directly to private individuals, without intermediaries," Leusink explains. "Because they’re the ones who currently make the most money. The farmer on the corner doesn’t get anything for it. Buy local products," is his advice. "That way, everyone benefits the most, for a fair price."

Demand falls, but price doesn’t

At Brink in Deventer, greengrocer Thijs van den Kop is seeing a decline in demand for potatoes. Consequently, the aisle with "opperdozen" and other types of potatoes is limited compared to the rest of his produce stall."We’re still buying for about the same price as in previous years," explains Van den Kop. "Okay, it might be a ten-cent difference, but at the auction they always want to get a minimum amount for the potatoes."Consumers should therefore not expect huge price drops: "All other production costs, such as transport, sorting, cleaning and storage, also continue as normal."People are eating less and less potatoes.© RTV Oost/Daniëlle Rademaker

Hopeful

Meanwhile, the growers in Wijhe are keeping their spirits up. De Jong de Leeuw: "We’re focusing on door-to-door sales and cutting the potatoes into fries. Perhaps there are fryers in the region who could use our products."The entrepreneurs are convinced that buyers will eventually come forward. And if that doesn’t happen, the potatoes will, in the worst-case scenario, be used as animal feed. "Or we’ll plow the soil so they become organic fertilizer," says De Jonghe Leeuw-Ogink. "It’s going to be a close call, but I’m confident."