First Lithuanian potatoes on the market: farmer calculates harvest halved

Although spring frosts were merciless this year and significantly reduced the future harvest, Rimantas Žebarauskas, the owner of the Žebarauskas Farm in the village of Bublias (Kėdainiai r.), does not break the tradition and invites his most loyal customers to buy their first Lithuanian potatoes again. As he does every year, the farmer aims to surprise his dads on the occasion of the upcoming Father's Day with fresh, lovingly grown potatoes.

Derlius – half the price

„The frosts did indeed freeze part of the harvest. It halved the levels“, – said R. Žebarauskas.

The farmer estimates that while last year he dug about 14 tonnes of early potatoes, this year he expects to get just 7–8 tonnes. The farm has 14 hectares of potatoes in total, but spring frosts „brazenly“ caused significant losses.

„The losses are significant. For one thing, the potato is already old, the plant itself. She will not have the strength to grow potatoes. It will still get some more, maybe a tonne more, that harvest, and that's it, because it has outlived its life. She didn't manage to grow tubers of sufficient quantity and size during the cold weather," explained the farmer.

Although the losses are significant, Žebarauskas does not shrug it off. This is what the year has been like. Some years are better, some are worse. Hopefully cereals will do well, late potatoes will do well too“.

 He also mentioned that Lithuania has been declared an emergency situation, so perhaps there will be some help from the government.

First potatoes – not for the market but for gourmets

The first potatoes being dug now are not intended for mass sale at the market, but for those who appreciate their taste and want the freshest potatoes, the farmer said.

„Here, let's call them gourmet potatoes, for those who understand, want and really know that they are Lithuanian and the first ones“, – said R. Žebarauskas. Only a small portion, perhaps a tonne or two, is currently being dug up for the weekend sale.

The farmer does not go to the market with such a small quantity and specific, smaller potatoes for other reasons. The current price of – €1.70/kg – would not be suitable for resellers, he said, and the resellers themselves could mislead buyers.

„They will immediately call my potato a Polish potato, issue an invoice and then cheat the buyer“, – feared R. Žebarauskas, adding that he only has a good relationship with honest farmers, which unfortunately are not many.

Promised not to raise prices

When asked about pricing, Mr Žebarauskas assured that although the price of first potatoes is EUR 1.70/kg, the basic price of potatoes will not be increased due to the decrease in the harvest.

„In exactly 10 days' time the price will be the same as last year. This year we were 10 days late with the first potatoes because of the frost. I did say out loud that I would not raise the price, so I will not raise it, I will keep my promise.

When we start trading with the market, that's when the real full trade will start and the price will stay as it was last year,

explained the farmer.

The sale of pearls started at the beginning of June and the price was around €1.20/kg.