Belgium, the world’s largest exporter of frozen french fries, is facing pressure on its supply chain. Local farmers are sounding the alarm, citing that the alternating heavy rains during spring and summer have weakened the soil conditions, coupled with subsequent extreme heat and drought, resulting in some potatoes (scientifically known as Solanum tuberosum) growing only to the size of ping-pong balls, rendering them unsuitable for french fry production.
According to a report by Euronews, in the town of Amay near Liège in eastern Belgium, farmer Mathieu Comijn unearthed Bintje potatoes from the cracked soil, with each potato being only the size of a ping-pong ball. He mentioned that under normal circumstances, these potatoes should be at least four times larger, and with the current size, they are simply unable to be used for making french fries.
The Comijn family cultivates about 500 hectares (5 square kilometers) of potatoes and has supply contracts with processing companies. Due to this year’s harvest being affected, they plan to use the leftover stock from last year’s unusually abundant harvest to fulfill some of the contract orders.
Belgium is the world’s largest exporter of frozen french fries, with its potato processing industry handling over 6 million tons of potatoes annually, and about 90% of the frozen french fries are exported to more than 120 markets worldwide. The tightening supply chain could eventually lead to an increase in french fry prices, affecting consumers.
At the renowned Maison Antoine french fry stand in Brussels, owner Pascal Willaert stated that large and slender potatoes are most suitable for making french fries, but this year, due to abnormal weather fluctuations, it has been challenging to find ideal potatoes for making fries.
The National Association of French Fry Merchants in Belgium, representing around 4,500 stores, has also warned that the tightening potato supply could further drive up french fry prices.