A SIGNIFICANT drop of up to 20% in contracted volumes per hectare has led to what the National Union of French Potato Producers (UNPT) has referred to as one of the most economically difficult campaigns for the country’s potato producers.
Early contract announcements for the 2026-2027 season had plunged growers into a deep and lasting economic crisis, the organisation recently announced.
The structure of certain contracts has exacerbated the situation, the organisation went on to add, while producers had also been bearing the brunt of a slower processing market.
UNPT has been calling for contractual arrangements to be strengthened and made more secure to avoid large, disorganised volumes entering the free market.
Contract prices are well below production costs, with levels announced being 25% lower than the previous campaign. UNPT called on producers to be mindful of this when assessing future planting areas.
