Potatoes - Farm Frites, Poland
Outputs
To allow potatoes to be harvested at the correct time to maximise yield and quality, Farm Frites has invested in 50,000 tonnes of potato storage facilities. This allows potatoes to be stored on the farm for several months prior to being sorted and despatched to the factory for processing. Any poor quality potatoes are graded out and are used for animal feed or for processing at a local distillery for alcohol production.
Poland is the largest producer of potatoes within the EU-25, representing 20% of total EU production, despite a strong decline over the last 15 years. Potatoes have traditionally been staple animal feed. However, an increasingly specialised feed industry has been given strong incentives to use alternatives such as cereals and other inputs, lowering market demand for potatoes in Poland.
Farm Frites, with its integrated processing and storage facilities, has created new opportunities for Polish farmers and contract growers who have suffered from the lower demand for potatoes.
On site storage reduces waste and enables on-site quality control, maximising returns and providing opportunities for local farmers and contract growers in a declining industry