Spain: COAG warns about the purchase of French potatoes that "depress" the price of Spanish potatoes.

COAG reported this Wednesday that some operators have taken advantage of the June tourist boom to buy up the French surplus of low-quality potatoes at prices of 15-20 cents per kilo. This situation has reduced the price of new Spanish potatoes at the farm level to 25-30 cents, below the 35-40 cents needed to cover production costs.

As a result, the new Spanish potatoes harvested in June in Murcia (Campo de Cartagena) and Andalusia, which should be in high demand, are going unsold. The organization has calculated that farmers are losing between 100 and 150 euros per ton, while tourists are consuming tortillas made with potatoes stored since last year, which tend to darken and fall apart when fried. 

Alberto Duque, COAG’s potato representative, pointed out that while hotels, bars, and restaurants in Spain are experiencing a boom season, farmers on the verge of bankruptcy are the ones producing the potatoes used in those tortillas. Currently, almost 73% of the potatoes imported into Spain come from France, representing a 23% increase in the last season.

Imports of French potatoes are projected to grow by 33% in ten years, reaching 941,000 tons by 2025. COAG is urging major distributors and Horeca operators in Spain, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, to support Spanish new potatoes during the May-July season. This would help gradually reduce dependence on French potatoes while sufficient local production remains.

The organization also demands clear labeling of the product’s origin and condition to enable consumers to make informed decisions. It calls on the Ministry to act urgently by strengthening controls on the food supply chain law, ensuring fair prices above actual production costs. Furthermore, it requests the launch of campaigns to promote the consumption of Spanish new potatoes, highlighting their nutritional properties, freshness, and culinary quality, as well as their contribution to national agriculture and rural areas.