Since the beginning of 2017, local sweet potatoes have been thriving and prospering at Pottbacker’s farm. Lower Rhine potato farm Pottbacker. “In terms of botany, production, as well as the post harvest preparation and handling it is a far superior crop with the potato that is used for table,” says Andreas Pottbacker who cultivates the root vegetable over 10 hectares. “From an advertising perspective I believe the biggest excitement is over now that the sweet potato has rapidly become a household name in recent years. It is evident in, amongst other things, by the fact that our biggest client, Edeka, runs promotions each six-to-8 weeks throughout the growing season.”
The main variety that is in the collection of the family-owned farming operation is Bellevue. Other varieties being used are Orleans, Erato and Bayou Belle and Bayou Belle, which are the first year that it has been introduced. In the present, the farm is bustling, since the harvesting season begins from September until the middle of October. “From the month of November we each week we begin the next marketing season. This year there was a hesitation to purchase from people, and this resulted in us not launching our final stock until the month of August. In the past, we had always selling out by March or April, however, this is because our production had decreased during previous seasons,” says Pottbacker. However, it also was an excellent chance for the producer of sweet potatoes to determine the shelf-life of his goods. The experiment, as he explains, was a success. “Ultimately we’d like to have sweet potatoes available in the region throughout the year eventually.”
Andreas Pottbacker (shown here in the room for curing) is breaking new ground through the cultivation of sweet potatoes. The potatoes are sold either to the wholesaler for potatoes in Essen Von der Stein or to Edeka Rhein-Ruhr. Each container in the tested and tried Europool returnable Crate.
Full use of yield
Around 70 percent of the entire harvest is suitable for fresh market, and makes it’s way to consumers through the wholesaler Von der Stein in Essen or through Edeka Rhein-Ruhr. “The remaining portion is not available in the form of packaged goods however, it is used in different distribution channels. For the jumbo sizes, as an instance, are sold to Bauer Funken and smaller-caliber items are packed in 500g containers to take to a Picnic. The remainder is turned as sweet potato chips an associate and another neighboring farm gets another portion from us to process liquor. The bottom line will be that only a little portion remains.” Pottbacker describes.
“Completely different structure of the market’
Prices for production are determined through close collaboration with the two major clients. Pottbacker declares, “Due to the fact that we’re developing and acquiring new knowledge each year, we’ve managed to reduce production costs each year so far. It is an entirely different market structure as compared to table potato.”
The committed farmer continues find a great deal of possibilities in sweet potatoes – particularly in light of the very low self-sufficiency within Germany. “Demand is steady and high and stable, particularly during the autumn and winter months, but we still managed to fill a significant quantity in the 22/23 market season, despite the middle-summer. For my business the farm department has been successful however, with regards the cultivation process and handling post-harvest There are areas which could be improved. In particular, there are many fungal infections which we must manage by some means.”
An insight into the clearing of Bellevue varieties. According to Pottbacker this variety is known in a uniform grade or bulb sizes that are uniform, as well as good form and relatively low effort when it comes to postharvest management.
A planter for harvesting flowers was changed to an edible Sweet potato picker.
After the uprooting process is complete the tubers, they are put into the standard wooden crates.
Similar to the process described above The ridges get gritted and cut. To prevent water logging, the sweet potatoes are planted in bio-mulch film in dams. They flourish best at the surface.
Fresh sweet potatoes from the kitchen as they cure. Prior to storage in the main, tubers are stored for a short period in a room at 26oC for approximately 10 days. The aim of this post harvest procedure is to increase sugar and starch formation within the tuber as well as wound healing.
Insight into sweet potato storage. Technology for storage makes it possible to keep tubers around 13 degrees up to August the next year. They can then be sold as required.
More information is available here:
Andreas Pottbacker
Kartoffelhof Pottbacker
Pottbacker Markt- und Kartoffelhandel GmbH
Kengen 39
47509 Rheurdt
Telefon: +49 2833 1447
Telefax: +49 2833 97127
E-Mail: info@pottbaecker.com
www.pottbaecker.com
Source: The Plantations International Agroforestry Group of Companies