Suiza: Switzerland has to import potatoes for chips and crisps

One of these is Daniel Peter, who has been growing potatoes in Rickenbach in canton Zurich for 20 years. He knows it is normal that the harvest varies year on year, but it has not been as bad as this year for a long time.

Peter, who also is vice-president of the Association of Swiss Potato Producers: "I have a 50% failure in the French fries and crisps varieties.” These varieties in particular have not survived the extreme weather changes from high heat to high rainfall this summer.

Peter was not the only one to have this problem. There are many potato farmers in Switzerland who are thinking of quitting, because this is already the third bad potato harvest in a row. The year 2021 was too wet and 2022 too dry. Many producers must postpone planned investments because they are currently having trouble paying their bills.

Because there is a shortage of about 100,000 tons of potatoes throughout Switzerland, the Zweifel crisps factory in Spreitenbach is procuring more potatoes from abroad than in other years. Sources claim that Zweifel has to import 15% to 18% of its potato requirements across the border.