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Data sheet on the French potato

Fact Sheets /

Thursday 4 September 2014

Potato farming ranks fifth in terms of quantity amongst the most cultivated crops in the world, following sugar cane, corn, rice and wheat. Every year, more than 320 million tons of potatoes are produced all over the world on more than 18 million hectares of land. The leading producer of potatoes is China with 85 million tons in 2013 (or 26 % of the world’s entire production). In second place is India (45 million tons), in third place Russia (30 million tons), followed by the Ukraine (23 million tons) and the United States (19 million tons).

France is ranked in 11th place in terms of global production, with more than 6 million tons produced on average every year.

Potato production in Europe

– Europe (including Russia) is responsible for 30% of the entire world’s production of potatoes (as compared to 43% pour Asia). Which represent 55 millions tons every year.

– France is the fourth largest European produce of potatoes, behind Germany (10.6 million [1] tons produced per year), Poland (9 million tons), and Holland (6.7 million tons). Measured in terms of weight, these four countries produce more than 50 % of all European potatoes.

– Behind these four countries, the United Kingdom (4.5 million tons) is ranked 5th in all European potato producing countries.

– In the European Zone, outside of the European Union, Belarus (7 millions) and Turkey (4.8 million tons) are also large producers of potatoes.

– Measured in terms of farm land, potato farming in Europe represents about 1.8 million hectares.

French potato exports

– France exported 2.8 million tons of potatoes in 2010 (the highest amount since 2005), or about one third of its total yield.

– France is the third largest European exporter of potatoes, following Holland (5.3 million tons) and Germany (4.6 million tons).

– Europe makes up the principal export zone with more than 95% of its yield in tons exported.

– As for destination countries, Spain alone represents 28% of all French potato exports, or slightly more than 800,000 tons on average a year. Italy comes in second (554,000 tons). Following Italy is Belgium (368,000 tons) and Portugal (271,000 tons)

Potato cultivation in France

– Between 6 and 7 million tons of potatoes are produced in France.

– Potatoes are the most produced vegetable in France, ahead of tomatoes (620,000 tons) and carrots (580,000 tons).

– Potatoes are produced on 154,000 hectares of French farm land.

– Nearly all national production of potatoes takes place in Northern France, particularly in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Roughly 2 million tons of potatoes (or more than 30% of total production) are grown each year on 40,000 hectares of farmland. Following the Nord-Pas-de-Calais is the Picardie region ( about 1.2 million tons), Champagne-Ardenne (530,000 tons) and Haute-Normandie (360,000 tons).

Seals of quality for French potatoes France has more than 10 seals of quality and national and international appellations for its different varieties of potatoes and its expertise:- l’île de Ré potatoes (AOP 2000, AOC 1998)

– Béa du Roussillon spring potatoes (AOP 2012, AOC 2006)

– Merville potatoes (IGP 1996, Red Label)

– Binjte potatoes (IGP, Red Label)

– Belle de Fontenay Red Label firm skinned potatoes

– Pompadour Red Label firm skinned potatoes

– Manon Red Label potatoes for French fries

The consumption of potatoes in France

-87% of all French households buy potatoes.

– On average, each household consumes roughly 35 kg of potatoes a year, or roughly 15.4 kg a year per person.

– If potato-based products (such as chips or fries) are taken into account, total potato consumption reaches 50 kg a year per person: that’s 50 % less than in 1960! [1]

– The potato is the most consumed vegetable in France ahead of tomatoes and carrots.

– Potatoes are available year round, with a spike in sales during the winter between October and March.

– The potato is sold principally in superstores (60% of sales). Farmer’s markets and small merchants only account for 14% of potato sales.

– The average price of a kilogram of potatoes is 0.75€.

The history of the potatoFive hundred years ago, who would have believed that the potato would become the most consumed vegetable in France?Grown by the Incas in South America on the Andean plateaus, the potato was brought to Europe by Spanish conquistadors in the 16^th century. At first, the general public scorned the new food and gave it to pigs and prisoners.

In the 18^th century, thanks to the craftiness of apothecary Antoine Auguste Parmentier, who made soldiers guard a field of potatoes in order to provoke their curiosity and the covetousness of the peasants, potatoes were introduced to the court and little by little to all of France, becoming the vegetable “of the cottage and the castle”.

Today, the potato is consumed in all forms (steamed, in salads, in casseroles, sautéed, or fried) by over three quarters of the population.

Source of Figures :

Faostat

Agreste

FranceAgrimer

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Data sheet on the French potato