ALVANTHO
First Thool potatoes auctioned in Sint-Annaland: 'They all look beautiful'
The first Thool potatoes were auctioned this morning in Sint-Annaland. This happened with the traditional auction clock. Traders from all over the country came to Sint-Annaland to make their move.
According to auctioneer David Hage, the first Thool potatoes came off the land later than usual. “Last year we were on May 31 and now it is more than three weeks later,” he says. “We all know that we have had a cold and wet spring. The potatoes have had bad conditions to grow. It is of course a natural product. You depend on all kinds of factors.”
In Sint-Annaland, the potatoes are still auctioned, while in many other places this is no longer the case. “We are in the middle of the area where cultivation takes place. These are always large volumes and then it is useful if the cooperative is located in the cultivation area. Then the growers can bring everything with their own transporter.”
'Stunningly beautiful'
One of the buyers came to Sint-Annaland with his truck from North Holland. “We are on the market, so we have to buy potatoes,” he says. “This is the first supply of the new Thool potatoes. I think they are really big actually. They all look stunningly beautiful.”
He bought a nice batch to take to the markets. "New bangers at this time, that's really special," he says approvingly. “You never really see that at this time, and certainly not with the drought.”
The only potato auction in the Netherlands has started© Omroep Zeeland
The potato auction with the traditional auction clock is only held a few times a year. It takes some skill to press at the right time to get a good price. “You have to make sure you print too late, otherwise it will be too expensive,” says one of the traders with a laugh. “You don't forget that. You have to look at the market a bit, feel what is happening and then you just have to push along.”
The only potato auction in the Netherlands has started© Omroep Zeeland
The first crate of potatoes was sold for charity. That yielded 2002 euros, the auction adds another thousand euros. That money is intended to buy seed potatoes for farmers in Ukraine and for the ZRTI. The Southwest Radiotherapeutic Institute in Vlissingen where people with cancer are irradiated.
