Netherlands: Farmers cannot sell their potatoes

Farmer Bert Sloetjes from Halle now has too many potatoes due to CêlaVíta’s bankruptcy. "CêlaVíta’s doors are closed. I can’t deliver anything, so I don’t get a cent."Sloetjes had price and delivery agreements with CêlaVíta. Now that harvesting has begun, he’s storing his potatoes in the shed. "We planted the potatoes, they’ve grown, and now we’re going to continue harvesting and find a way to sell them."

The perfect storm

That won’t be easy. Even on the open market, growers can’t sell their potatoes, confirms LTO Akkerbouw. ​​There’s a surplus, especially for French fry potatoes. "Growers are being affected by the expansion of potato-growing land. Due to the good harvest and high prices of recent years, French fry factories have increased their production."Growing potatoes has become increasingly attractive. More farmers in Germany, France, and Belgium have started growing potatoes. Dutch livestock farmers have also switched.According to the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO), French fry factories are now also facing competition from China and India, which is reducing demand for Dutch fries. "Now that US President Trump’s trade tariffs are also disrupting the market, we’re facing the perfect storm."

LTO Inventory

These are uncertain times for Sloetjes. "Will CêlaVíta be relaunched or not? And will our potatoes be used?"LTO is assessing the damage and advocating for the farmers’ interests with CêlaVíta’s receiver. "Hopefully, the receiver will provide clarity soon. We hope that any acquisition party will honor the current contracts."In total, approximately 100 growers nationwide have been affected by this.

Alternatives

Selling potatoes elsewhere is practically impossible. Some are processed into animal feed, starch, or flakes. Fermentation for gas and donation to food banks are also options. But according to Sloetjes, all of this yields very little.