Low Quality Benelux Potato Crop

WASHINGTON - Oct 11/06 - SNS -- Potato growers in the Netherlands delayed a good portion of their harvest in September, suggesting they are focusing on harvesting good quality secondary tubers rather than primary tubers, reports the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

So far, roughly 45% of the crop has been harvested even though conditions in September were favorable. Unfortunately, weather during the summer was unfavorable and initial results for this year's primary tumors reveals that the apparent weight (AW) was lower than desired for the human consumption market.

In fact, the U.S. agricultural attache reports the entire North West European harvest is expected to be poor quality.

"The main reason being the unfavorable weather conditions during the months of July and August of this year. July was a dry month and demonstrated high temperatures. As a result the temperature of the soil went up and created the perfect environment for the primary tubers to sprout. The following month was extremely wet and relatively cold which initiated the production of secondary tubers on the new sprouts."

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