China: Chinese potatoes facing slow sales
In China, the main potato growing areas include Inner Mongolia, Northeast China, and Northwest China. The climate in these areas is relatively dry and suitable for potato growth.
Also, temperatures in these regions, even in the summer, are not high, as potatoes like cool and dry climates.
This year, potatoes from Inner Mongolia have experienced a slow market, mainly due to the bumper harvest. Prices now average around 0.5 yuan per half a kilo, but there are very few buyers.
The main reason for the bumper harvest is the abundant rainfall in northern China. Even the relatively arid north-western region has seen plenty of rains this year.
At present, at least several million kilos remain unsold in Inner Mongolia, and some are still in the fields, but in fact, prices are high in the market. Generally, the average price in the market is between 1.5 yuan and 2 yuan per half a kilo. In areas where prices are higher, potato prices have reached 3 yuan per half a kilo.
There are a few reasons for this. First of all, farmer’s markets in China adopt an access system, which means some markets do not allow vegetables from other regions to be marketed in local markets. Another reason is the increase in transportation costs. Currently, the transportation cost of grains and vegetables is still high, especially for produce like potatoes and vegetables that are relatively short in shelf life. The dropping temperatures are also contributing to higher transportation costs.
Source: Toutiao
Fuente: https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9274328/chinese-potatoes-facing-slow-sales/
