French fries potatoes stop growing in the field

Test harvests from potato processor Aviko Potato show that the potatoes are no longer growing or are growing very little. It is notable that the percentage of larger potatoes has rather decreased than increased in recent weeks. Last week, the yields in the test harvests from Aviko increased slightly. This can be concluded from the yield curve, which shows only a very small increase last week. The average yield stagnates in these test harvests at around 63 tons per hectare. For this time of year, it is a very high yield. The line is still well above that of previous years. But where there was still growth in previous years, it now seems to be really over. From this, it can be concluded that the yields in the test harvest from Aviko approach the level of 63 to 64 tons per hectare in 2022. The outcomes of just over 65 tons per hectare in 2019 seem to be too ambitious. The year 2018 was the worst in this sampling with 55 tons per hectare. In most years, the yields in these test harvests range from 60 to 62 tons per hectare. Underwater weight increases slightly The underwater weight has increased slightly in the past week after a strong rise in the two weeks before that. Thus, the underwater weight is well above 410 grams. The percentage of larger potatoes has dropped to 85% larger than 50 millimeters. Three weeks ago, this was at 86%, and since then there has been a slight downward trend. In 2020, 2021, and 2023, the potatoes were slightly larger, and in 2019, the percentage of larger potatoes ultimately exceeded 85%. Last year, after a late season, barely more than three-quarters of the potatoes were larger than 50 millimeters. Dryness in France In France, the yields are significantly lower than in the Netherlands. Test harvests from the growers' organization UNPT indicate yields of 42.8 tons per hectare. Drought hinders regrowth. The testers expect that the yields will hardly increase any further. As a result, yields remain lower than in previous years. Only in 2022 were the yields slightly lower at 41 tons per hectare. The percentage of larger potatoes in France is stuck at 78%.