Spain: "The import of French potatoes is causing a drop in the price of domestic potatoes"

Alberto Duque, farmer and president of the Interprofessional Potato Association of Castilla y León, gave his opinion on various topics such as the import of French potatoes from Egypt and Israel, the significant drop in the price of Spanish potatoes, the situation of farmers in general, and the problems with the final labeling of the product. 

Regarding concerns about Spanish potatoes, the farmer stated: "There are two main concerns. First, there’s the import of French potatoes, which is causing a significant drop in the price of domestic potatoes, as they are currently very cheap. And second, there’s another type of potato that worries us the most: potatoes from Egypt and Israel, which arrive in the first months of the year, in February, April, and even May."

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Regarding the French potato, Duque stated that, although the consequences are worrying, at least "it is a potato of European origin, with all the blessings there are and ever will be in terms of controlled production, knowing exactly what products have been added, products fully authorized in the European Union, which guarantee people’s health." 

On the other hand, the potatoes from Egypt "do worry us because we really don’t know what they’re bringing us in those containers. There have been several times when food safety alerts have been triggered as a result, for example, with potatoes and even watermelons that have come from Morocco. So, in the end, we find ourselves somewhat defenseless."

Duque reiterated that Spanish farmers are at risk due to the decline in the quality of the domestic potato crop. "The domestic potato crop, of which we currently have approximately 25% of the production remaining in the fields, has faced a very particular situation this year in Castile and León: it has been extremely hot, resulting in very low production, around 20 to 30% lower than in other years, and this has exacerbated the problem. Right now, with the importation of French potatoes, what is happening is that Spanish farmers are being driven to ruin," he reflected.