Analysis Potatoes
Agristo contract focuses on growth and trust
The Belgian potato processor Agristo is taking the lead with its potato contracts for the 2025 harvest. The prices, which largely remain the same, are intended to convey trust and stability, ultimately resulting in growth of volume and the chain. Growers who can clean during the off-peak period and deliver on call are rewarded.
The new potato contract from Agristo is not particularly exciting, and that is exactly what the company aims for, explains Agro Director Europe Stefanie Dumortier. She takes over from her colleague Steven de Cuyper, who now holds the position of Agro Director International (focusing on Agristo's international expansion). "By largely keeping the prices the same as in 2024/25, we convey stability to our growers. That's what they need." The Belgian company also keeps the seed potato prices the same.
Price differentiation
"There are two nuances in the contract for the upcoming season," continues Dumortier. "The price differentiation between the base varieties (Fontane) and Challenger and Markies will be €1 instead of €0.50 throughout the year. The difference with Innovator and the other long varieties remains €2 for November and €2.50 thereafter." This means that the off-peak season for the main harvest starts in week 38 with €17.50 for Fontane and €19.50 for Innovator. In week 17, the price is €27.20 and €29.70 for the two varieties. Finally, at the end of June (week 26), it is €29.60 for Fontane. Agristo stops with Innovator at the end of May, with the price then being €31.20.
The other nuance is the distinction that Agristo will make from next year between off-peak delivery directly on the truck and delivery over a hopper, for sieving the soil. This also applies to temporarily storing batches in case of changeable weather during the off-peak period. With a difference in contract prices, the company aims to reward growers for this effort.
Earlier harvesting
Dumortier: "For Fontane delivered directly, the price is €16.50 throughout October. For cleaned potatoes, which we can call off ourselves, the price gradually increases in October, from €18 at the beginning of October to €19.50 at the end of the month. We hope that growers are also motivated to harvest earlier, so that we can prevent extreme weather conditions if possible. For Innovator, €18.50 is applied in October for direct off-peak delivery. The new harvest season will start a week later next year, in week 29 (mid-July) instead of week 28 as was the case this year.
"Agristo consciously focuses on the growth of potato volume and growth throughout the chain," explains the Agro Director. "For the upcoming season, our processing capacity remains the same, but in 2026, an expansion of processing in Wielsbeke is planned. In the spring of 2027, our new factory in Escaudœuvres, near Cambrai, will be opened."
