The current potato export season, which is in its last month, has been described as “better than expected” by growers in sa Pobla, but “future seasons are in serious danger”, according to the manager of Mateu Export, the municipality’s main exporter.
The main reasons for concerns about the future of the sector, according to Joan Mateu, “are the increase in operating costs, the Brexit and now the war in Ukraine”.
For example, he explained that “now truckers do not want to go to the United Kingdom, not even if they are paid 40 percent more than before Brexit, because of the time it now takes to get in and out of the ports”.
S’Esplet SAT’s manager Joan Company highlighted the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the problems it could cause “for intensive agriculture such as ours, because it means a change in model for which the farmers are not prepared”.
The current season, which will end in July, “has gone quite well, better than we expected at the beginning”, according to Joan Mateu and from S’Esplet, production has been lower but prices have held up, according to Joan Company.
Seven out of every ten potatoes that Spain exports to the United Kingdom are from Sa Pobla which is why local farmers are concerned about the future.
This Friday and Saturday the Fira Nocturna de la Patata spud fair will be held in the Plaça Major in sa Pobla, with the participation of 20 bars and restaurants in the municipality.
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Morgan Try convincing BMW Mercedes, Audi that the U.K. can no longer purchase their products because the U.K. is no longer in the European Union.or the USA for that matter. I think you will find the potato growers of Majorca traditionally sold well in the U.K. with the premium price. Or the market price which controls most food commodities here. The issue is the lack of additional customer markets in the European Union for their products, seem to be the growers concern. They could cut the sale price obviously and displace another supplier. Or export elsewhere at extra cost to a market that doesn’t yet exist and will need marketing to open up. More cost.
You may not have noticed, but the UK is no longer an EU member, and therefore no longer eligible to enjoy the benefits of it. It's not EU "intransigence". The UK isn't part of this market anymore. It's unfortunate that the higher cost of Sa Pobla potatoes in the UK as a result could possibly make them cost prohibitive for Brits, but there is an 8x larger market right here in Europe without the hassle and expense of selling to the UK.
The 3 mile long traffic jams of lorry's are going into the so called EU this is down to the EU red tape that the EU has imposed of the UK...on the Border going into the UK we have no traffic jams as the import paperwork to bring goods into the UK is just a simple matter and you are wave through... unlike the EU side when even the truck drivers ham sandwiches are taken from them...and to top it of truck drivers are also forced to clean the mud of the truck tyres before crossing into the EU.
I am really sorry to here this news as I really like this island product. My mam used to buy them when I was a kid. 60years ago. They were called Spanish salad potatoes back then and were really exotic back where I came from. Most things where .Always covered in light soil dust which I thought was sand. I have noticed for the last couple of years the absence of Cyprus and Majorca’s potatoes and other veg. This year they have been replaced by Indian, Egyptian, jerseys and a increase in U.K. grown very good early season potatoes. green beans and peppers and other veg from Kenya, Peru, Morocco and others, all very good quality. So displacement sources have been found for U.K. consumption. List of problems Along with with sausage to Northern Ireland and Marks and Spencer’s shop closures and popular products reductions and cessation in France and Irish republic. Remember the U.K. is not restricting any European Union’s food products into this country. All the transportation issues are France and European Union’s doing. Other world nations and U.K. growers now profiting from supplying the U.K.. some listed above. I wish the Mallorca growers the best of luck but not sure where they will find 67 million customers literally on the doorstep who with they have a long tradition of business. Don’t blame Brexit, the U.K. will buy Majorca’s potatoes. if India and Egypt can supply why can’t Mallorca. It is the European Unions intransigence and protectionism’s faux safety concerns, that will be responsible for the difficulties and possible demise of the islands potato producers.