Too small for fries: Drought shrinks Belgian potatoes
Mathieu Comijn inspected rows of potatoes in a field of cracked earth and browned leaves, pulling from the ground tubers barely the size of pingpong balls.
A Belgian farmer, Mathieu Comijn, inspected his potato fields and found tubers much smaller than expected, barely the size of pingpong balls. The Dutchman, who farms near Liège, expressed his frustration, questioning how anyone could make fries out of such tiny potatoes. The unusually severe weather in Belgium, including heavy spring rains and extreme heat, severely impacted potato growth. The compact soil hardened, preventing potatoes from developing properly, leading to undersized tubers.
The Comijn family, who grow 500 hectares of potatoes, had already started using last year's stock to meet supply contracts. However, this year's harvest is insufficient, and they may have to resort to using lower-quality varieties, potentially lowering the quality of fries. The national union of fry vendors, led by Bernard Lefevre, anticipates an increase in fry prices due to the supply shortage. Despite the challenges, the sector's resilience remains strong, but higher fry prices are likely to negatively impact consumers.
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