Potato imports from Malta could be slashed by 50% due to frost, Dutch trader warns

Maltese farmers are concerned at the loss of revenues due to the damaged crops, which is expected to result in far less exports than last year. Damages have also been reported in Cyprus, which will also be exporting less.

Blankendaal Trade BV said that it expects the early varieties to arrive in the course of next week. "But that is still dependent on the weather. The late varieties still need to grow for another six or seven weeks. These will only arrive at the end of April or the beginning of May," a spokesman for Blankendaal Trade BV.

The Dutch potato trader added however that it was not "that concerned over the 'meagre' harvest. "We do not need to eat all these potatoes then in any case," the spokesman added.

Blankendaal Trade BV meanwhile organised its own sorting station in Malta and will buy the potatoes directly from the growers.

75% of the potatoes imported from Malta by Blankendaal are of the crumbly seed variety Alpha. These seeds are exported to Malta in October and the 'off- spring' imported into The Netherlands again.