“Even though our quality has always been good, this season it has surpassed itself,” says product manager for Agrexco UK, Yaniv Yablonka. “This season was better than previous years - we had better packing results and lower wastage as well as improved washing quality on both new and salad potatoes.”
Reviewing the past season, Yablonka attributes the success to several reasons: “Quality was good quality; improved flexible service and higher availability in Israel gave the company an opportunity to enter new markets; new lines were developed and customer service levels were improved because we covered all requirements on all sizes throughout the whole season.”
The potato shortage across Europe meant Israel was a main Mediterranean producer and “our volumes reached record levels, especially in new season main crop in the spring.” New potatoes are Agrexco’s leading potato product and customers were happy with the quality and the two new varieties introduced - Peer and Carlingford - alongside Nicola. “Most importantly, our customers were happy with the level of all sizes kept throughout the season, giving the option to fulfil the needs for baby or smalls as well as the loose new products,” says Yablonka.
The exporter’s salad potato season was slightly later than usual starting in late March and two varieties dominated the supply; Exquisa and Charlotte while main crop production was concentrated on Maris Piper, King Edwards and several Bakers varieties. “We saw a huge improvement on quality - particularly on the skin finish and washing quality. This was achieved by hard work from Agrexco’s farmers, the technical team and our agronomist all working together throughout the winter and being selective and careful at the time of harvesting and shipping.”
Agrexco’s strengths in post harvest operations play a big part in keeping the produce quality from the field to the consumer. Freshness is maintained because potatoes are lifted to match vessel departing schedules, demonstrating the collaboration between field staff, head office and marketing, all working together to transport the produce at the right time and quality to the customers, says Yablonka.
The organic season differs slightly from the conventional, starting later in December and running through to June. Agrexco has transferred its strengths - experienced grower contact, logistical advantages and attention to detail - from growing conventional crops to organic potato production. Agrexco has seen success with the Nicola variety as well as Sante, Valor, Remarka, Ditta and Desiree types. “We trial new varieties every season, testing for suitability and quality,” explains product manager organics Rob Cullum.
“The last two seasons have seen good results with Maris Piper and Charlotte - this season Argos, Winston and Milva looks as if they might be added to our range. Along with these successes there are many failures, but the trials are necessary for the future of the business.” The organic produce is packed directly in the field and the company has undertaken substantial research to determine the ideal sea-freight packaging for organic produce. “To meet the high demand for organic is challenging but the growth potential is enormous,” continues Cullum, “and we plan to improve the supply chain, by increasing volume and quality.”
Sweet potatoes, although considered an exotic, also play a part of the Agrexco portfolio. Cullum says that sweet potatoes are widely reported as one of the healthiest foods, thus becoming a mainstream item for Agrexco. “We are the largest importer in Europe with a good track record for both quality and service.” The Israeli season is being extended by the addition of new varieties. Agrexco covers 12-month programmes for key customers by importing sweet potatoes from selected growers in the US and packing to customer requirements, from a 4.5kg box to 500kg bins.
“We are keen to point out that this extended season is not achieved by storing the product for longer periods - the quality would suffer and it would make marketing difficult,” says Cullum. The new varieties available in commercial volumes last year were so successful that these will be increased for the forthcoming season.”
YEAR-ROUND SUPPLY TO IRELAND
This season, Agrexco formed a partnership with one of Ireland’s Wilson’s Country of Portadown, to pack and market its 10kg prepared mids throughout the republic. We started talking to Wilson’s Country before the Israeli season with regard to packing and serving non-high street clients with our 10kg salad potatoes in the Carmel carton.
The good news is that following the success of the Israeli season, Wilson’s Country are preparing to pack the local crop of washed and prepared salad potatoes under the Carmel brand.
“Our partnership with Agrexco is ideal - the two brands of Carmel and Wilson’s are synonymous with quality and we can now provide an opportunity for customers throughout Ireland to have a supply of new season mids packed daily in Ireland. We look forward to working with Agrexco and supplying the Carmel brand throughout Ireland,” says Yablonka.
Agrexco has a similar partnership in the UK with DGM contract packers for the Israeli season. Once the season ends, Agrexco takes on the role of marketing agent on behalf of DGM to sell English potatoes under the Carmel brand name, providing a continuous annual supply.
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