Despite the cheap imports arriving from Egypt, producer prices for open ground potatoes remained high in Greece after Easter. The next few weeks will, in fact, bring a full production and demand for a quality Greek product.
The current high price is the result of various factors, not just because the imports arriving from Egypt will soon stop, but also that there is no other fresh product on the domestic market at present or any stock of old crops.
As noted by the agronomists from the prefectures of Ilia and Achaia, low temperatures have delayed the harvesting for open ground potatoes, but production is expected to be in full swing in the short term. Moreover, exports will be more dynamic, thus boosting demand for the product.
"Exports are necessary because, due to the difficult economic conditions, on-going measures and pension cuts, the purchasing power of consumers has been dramatically reduced, taking a toll on the consumption not only of potatoes, but also of almost all vegetables," reported Fresher.
The prices paid to potato producers this year reach 60 cents per kilo, which is an increase of 50%, since last year the price peaked at 40 cents per kilo and then went on a downward spiral. "The open ground potato harvest kicked off on Monday and we have so far received 250-300 tonnes and we have already exported 50% to Poland and some small quantities to the Czech Republic," said Georgios Goumas, general manager of Agrexpo, which has its headquarters in Kalamata and exports potatoes to Europe.
