The firm skin quality campaign must be implemented sustainably. “This is the only way we can succeed in being listed in the food retail trade and win over market shares from imported potatoes”, says Martin Umhau, Chairman of the Board of UNIKA. “Our positive experience since launching the firm skin initiative in 2008 confirms that this is successful.”

The currently very small but high-priced supply (due to weather conditions so far) entices farmers to harvest crops before they are sufficiently ripe. Umhau therefore appeals to producers of early potatoes to remain patient. Firm skins are held in higher regard by consumers and food retailers and bring the entire producer sector closer to the goal of higher net value added. On the one hand consumption of early table potatoes is to be increased, while on the other hand the share of German produce is to be raised.

The analysis of longer-term market development reveals that so far early table potatoes from Germany have lost out in the first half of the season, as food retailers prefer well-ripened and hence more stable foreign produce in early summer. The aim is to reverse this trend with firm-skinned local early table potatoes. “As domestic early table potatoes come closest to satisfying consumer wishes for local produce, freshness, and short transport distances as well as monitored production, we have the food retail trade on our side for firm-skinned early potatoes“, explains Alois Keutmann, Chairman of the association of early and table potato producer communities.