Spain (Galicia): The Galician potato harvest is marked by spring rains.

The Galician -made potato   has been a delicacy on the community’s tables for centuries. As a main dish or as a side dish, in a juicy omelet or alongside a good steak, the potato is loved by almost everyone. But before reaching our kitchens, it travels a long road: a cycle of planting, growth, and harvesting that guarantees its unmistakable quality and flavor.

The Limia region is facing a new crop of this food somewhat later than usual. The president of the Limia Potato Producers Association, Amador Díaz, explains that the rainy spring affected the planting dates.

 "It was a complex year due to the amount of rain that fell throughout the spring. Until May 10, there was hardly any sowing, when normally it starts in April," the expert points out.

This delay has meant that a large part of the crop is still in the production cycle, which will delay the main harvest "to the end of September or even into October" in most cases.

Despite the difficult start, the high summer temperatures haven’t seriously affected the crop thanks to the irrigation system. In fact, the drought can be considered a positive effect for the potato. "Without rain, there was practically no incidence of pests, which is why it looks good," adds Díaz.

In terms of surface area, the usual 3,500 hectares in A Limia remain, with a production typically reaching around 120 million kilos.

The international market, an added challenge

One of the biggest concerns for producers is the evolution of the market, according to Díaz. The influx of French and other potatoes is slowing the export of domestic produce.

 "A nivel de hoxe hai un retraso no consumo da pataca española. Espero que non acabe repercutando nunha caida de prezos", advierte Díaz, que, a su vez, confirma que el precio seguirá semejante a la campaña de 2024.

Another of the most worrying issues is competing with Morocco or Israel. As Amador says, it is difficult: "They play in another league, they use products that are not authorized here. We sell safety and quality, guaranteed by the designation of origin". The IXP Patata de Galicia is thus presented as a key factor to differentiate itself.

Bergantiños: smaller size and early harvest

In the Bergantiños region, Coristanco producers are facing a similar situation. Spring rains delayed planting and forced early and late varieties to be planted together. "Stress reduced the plant’s cycle and prevented it from reaching an adequate size," explains Juan Ramón Sanjurjo, president of the producers.

Harvesting began up to two weeks earlier than expected, but with smaller and heavier tubers. "We’re harvesting a lot earlier... and on top, the potatoes are smaller and lighter," confirms Sanjurjo, who expects all of them to be harvested by the end of September.

As for yields, estimates are lower than in previous years, although he doesn’t dare to give exact figures. Sanjurjo does comment that "nun ano bo" in Coristanco they harvest about 20,000 kilos per hectare per season.

A future with structural challenges

Beyond the weather and the market, generational change and smallholdings mark the future of the sector throughout the Bergantiños region. "Small producers, who are older people, are becoming fewer and fewer, and those of us who remain are becoming more specialized," reflects Sanjurjo. The problem: small, scattered farms raise costs and complicate crop control. 

The sector thus faces a mixed season: good prospects for conservation in A Limia, but with more limited production in Bergantiños, and a market uncertainty that will be decisive for the prices of a delicacy that is a staple in every Galician kitchen.