CYPRUS POTATOES (information February 2005 from C.P.M.B. - Cyprus Potatoe Marketing Board)

Although in Cyprus, due to the mild climate and topography, fresh potatoes are harvested nearly all year around, for practical, historical and statistical reasons, the Cyprus potato production is divided in 4 crops namely: The WINTER CROP, which planted in August/September and harvested in November until February. This crop consists of 50% of the local consumption market and 50% of the export market. The SPRING CROP or the 'Main crop' which is planted in November/February and harvested in March/June (mainly for export but also for local consumption). The INTERMEDIATE CROP planted in October and harvested in late February, beginning of March (a small crop mainly produced for export). The SUMMER CROP planted in April/June on Troodos mountains (very small quantities mainly for the local market). It must be stressed that all potatoes for export (except in special occasions) comply with the Geneva definition of New Potatoes because they are lifted fresh, marketed fresh and are "scrapers".

About 80-85% of Cyprus potatoes are produced in the coastal red soil area, South-East of Cyprus between the occupied by the Turkish troops "Ghost Town" Famagusta and the town of Larnaca. Around 70% of the total production is exported, mainly to European countries. Main Exporting Markets for Cyprus Potatoes are the UK, Germany and Belgium. Considerable quantities are also exported to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Greece, Italy and small quantities to many other countries. Last year, the Cyprus potato production was approximately 130,000 tons, consisting of 85,000 on exports by the C.P.M.B. and only 2-3 thousand tons by other exporters (after the 1st of May). The UK imported a quantity of 16000 tons mainly for the wholesale markets. The balance (some 40-42 thousand tons have been consumed in Cyprus).

The Cyprus Potato Marketing Board, established by Law in 1964, secured for more than 40 years a fair share of the world market price for the Cypriot growers. The role of the C.P.M.B however, is changing since Cyprus joined the EU the 1st of May 2004.

The growers cannot anymore get any direct subsidies from the Cyprus State and of course not from the E.U as no common regime exist for potatoes. The C.P.M.B. lost the monopolising power as well as the central potato planning for the whole Cypriot potato industry. However the CPMB still retains most of its role in Cyprus potato industry. Most of the growers are now organised in "Growers Groups". The largest group is the Pancyprian Organisation of Potato Growers (P.O.P) with 768 growers (from the approximate 1500 potato growers) cooperating with C.P.M.B. (which cooperates also with some individual growers). The CPMB is doing the planning (quantities, varieties, etc) the packing the shipping, the marketing etc.

For the 2004/2005 season C.P.M.B exports are planned to reach 50000 tons of potatoes (5-7 thousand tons winter all around 45000 tons spring potatoes). Up to now (end of February) some 4500 tons winter crop potatoes have been exported by the Board to 17 European countries. C.P.M.B. / P.O.P. growers will grow several varieties for the next season the main one being the following :

b) "Salad" potatoes (firm cooking): Nicola (A-B), Charlotte (A-B), Ditta (A-B), Inova (A-B), Filea (A-B), Princess (A), Sieglinde (A-B) Bernadette (A-B).

c) "Flowering" firm cooking potatoes: Cara (C-B), Diamant (C-B).

Potatoes for export will be packed according to the clients preferences in polypropylene bags (15,20,25 Kg) in jumbos (1000 and 1250 Kg) and boxes of 500 Kg ( directly from the fields, and grated in various sizes (25-35/38mm, 35-45mm, 35-55mm, 45+mm, 65+mm, mixed sizes, etc).

All chemical treatments during growth are carried out according to E.U. regulations; no chemical is used for burning the foliage before the harvesting. Potatoes are harvested when foliage is still green except in special occasions when, in agreement with clients 'Reglon' herbicide is used for the production of "set skin" babies. No post harvest or storage chemicals (e.g. sprout inhibitors) are used on export crops.

The lifting is done with simple small harvesters (which have replaced the traditional plough) and the tubers are collected by hand and put in wooden boxes of approximately 500Kg. They are covered immediately to be protected from the light (greening, glugoalcaloids, etc.) and transported the same day in the C.P.M.B. packing stations for weighting, packing final inspection, marking and loading .

All potatoes for export are inspected during growth harvesting and packing by the Board agronomists but also by the State inspectors (Cyprus Inspection Service). The latter, inspects the potatoes again in the packing station just before loading in the containers and at random in the ports during loading in the vessels and issue the necessary phytosanitary inspection certificates.

During harvesting or before loading in the packing station, the agronomists of the Board check for nitrates and take samples at random to be sent to the State laboratory for residue analysis. Of course soil analysis and residue analysis before harvesting is obligatory for all growers participating the EurepGap programme. Cyprus accepts the residue tolerances accepted by CODEX Alimentarius Commission and the EU. The results of these will be given to the clients if asked.

In order to have full traceability of the product, all boxes with potatoes will be properly labelled in the packing station before loading in the containers.

In order to retain the 'periderm' of the tubers thin (loose) but also to avoid the increase of reducing sugars, temperature in the containers are retained at 7 degrees Celsius. A relative humidity of 90-95% insures that the potatoes will be kept fresh.

During the last years many changes and of course improvements have taken place. For example, better quality water is now available after the completion of the South Conveyor Project and the construction of the two Desalination Plants in the Larnaca area. Another positive point that worth's mentioning is the fact that new generation of potato growers are better skilled and certainly more educated than the past years. Due to the continuous research for new varieties by the Cyprus Research Institute and the market research by the C.P.M.B. new better varieties are now available. Since 1996 all Cyprus potatoes are palletised. Also only the most modern RO/RO or Reefer vessels are now used for shipping. Additionally during the last few years more than one third of the Cyprus potatoes are exported by containers, in the case of the UK only Reefer containers for "door to door" delivery. The Board also has completed the programme for the replacement of all the packing machines at the Boards Packing Station. However since some UK Supermarkets prefer to avoid packing the Board can deliver their packers in the UK directly from the fields. Some 30-35% of Cyprus potatoes are now packed in Jumbo bags of 1250Kg for the supermarkets. In all cases and for all growers a full traceability system has been established. Additionally 25% of the production comes already from EUREPCAP certified growers. This percentage will drastically increase in the years to follow as an aim has been set to have all of our growers EUREPCAP certified.

Winter crop potato exports are expected to stop very soon. On the other hand the spring crop potato exports will start also very soon (officially CPMB exports start 1st of May). The planting of spring crop plantation was done in time and the crop look very healthy, although some of the first early potatoes suffered frost during week 7.

As mentioned already the CPMB is planning to export a smaller quantity than last year (45.000 - 50.000 tons compared with 71.000 tons last year) taking in considaration the new situation in Cyprus, the present situation in potato trade in Europe and the requirements of our clients. Please note however that the Board's appr. 800 growers are in the position, if needed, to produce more than 100.000 tons.

This season, NICOLA is again the main variety for export (more than 15.000 tons), but some other varieties are going to be exported to satisfy our traditional clients, in more than 20 European countries. For Austria SPUNTA, LIZETA, DIAMANT, NICOLA, DITTA, for Germany for instance, except NICOLA and SPUNTA, some German varieties are going to be produced like FILEA (6.000 tons), MARABEL (2.500), SIEGLINDE, PRINCESS, BERNADETTE. For UK main varieties will be as usual SPUNTA, CARA, DIAMANT, MARFONA, NICOLA etc. For Ireland, CARA and DIAMANT, for Belgium NICOLA and Charlotte, for Greece SPUNTA, MARFONA, CARA, for Holland DIAMANT and NICOLA, for Switzerland NICOLA, CHARLOTTE etc. Additionally, the Board will export set skin babies like Nicola and Charlotte and Bakers like MARFONA and CARA.

Main market will be again Germany, but good quantities of Cyprus potatoes will be exported to the UK, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Holland and Ireland and smaller quantities to another 15 European and other countries.