Exporting cleaned potatoes to far-off destinations is a risky business. The quality of the potatoes can decline because of the long transport times. However, demand for cleaned potatoes is rising globally, and various countries have strict requirements regarding tare. With their experience in cleaning for industry, Jan Vroegop and Wim Murre of Primofin developed a cleaning line so that the potatoes can handle the long transport times better.

“We’ve been cleaning for industry for years now,” Wim says. ‘Problem batches’ in particular, with too much green, decay or floaters are cleaned, scanned and/or salted out by the Dutch company in Swifterbrand, Flevoland. “Besides, there are a lot of other problems,” he continues. “Sprouts, lumps, stones or pressure spots: it depends on the production circumstances and storage. We haven’t had a quiet moment in the past ten years.”

Developing their own cleaning line
Wim saw demand for cleaned potatoes from traders increasing, and particularly for far-off export destinations. “Cleaning for export is completely different from cleaning for industry,” he says. While the industry potatoes have been processed into chips or other potato products within four hours after cleaning, the export potatoes spend a long time on the road before they’ve reached their destination. Yet Wim took on the challenge.

“We visited many sorting companies and washing plants, and that’s how we developed our own vision regarding cleaning,” he explains. Because of this extensive orientation, Wim realised the importance of a hygienic and potato-friendly cleaning line. “We developed our own line, which has been operational since 2017. The way we clean the potatoes, they have a long shelf life for export or the fresh market.”

dro height important for quality
The line cleans dirty potatoes, after which they’re scanned, dried and sorted to size. Eventually, the potatoes can be packed in various packaging, varying from paper or netting to big bags and crates. “We developed the set-up of the line ourselves. We bought some of the machines on the line, but other parts we developed ourselves. An important bottleneck in a machine line is, for example, the dro height and the number of transitions in a line. With a hopper, the potatoes can easily dro roughly 40 centimetres.” Wim developed a solution with the conveyor belt directly connected to the hopper, so that dro height is limited.

For the export to Southeastern Europe, the potatoes are already cleaned. For the export to destinations farther away, trade is a bit more hesitant, Wim has noticed. “Most traders are worried about decay during transport, but we’re convinced that worry is unjustified when quality of the potatoes is good.” He expects demand for cleaned potatoes will increase from multiple countries. “Trading cleaned potatoes is more sustainable when you don’t have tare,” Wim mentions one of the benefits. “Scanning for green also becomes impossible when the potatoes aren’t cleaned.” Besides, some countries, including Saudi Arabia, have strict requirements for the import of tare. “Sometimes, batches are barely approved because of the earth still on the potatoes.”

Cleaning for cafeterias
For the importing companies, the cleaned potatoes have the benefit of more transparency about quality. “I expect many buyers will appreciate it when the potatoes are supplied clean.” In Dutch and European supermarkets, a clear trend can be seen for more cleaned potatoes. “The same will be true for destinations farther away.” Besides export, Wim sees opportunities in cleaned potatoes for the catering industry. Because of the rise in cafeterias that cut their own fresh chips, the Netherlands also has a market for cleaned potatoes.

“Customers see the benefit of this cleaning line,” Wim explains. “They see the benefits of the longer shelf life.” Depending on quality upon arrival, shelf life ranges from two weeks to several months. Just like other machines, Primofin’s line is no hospital either; quality of the potatoes can’t be improved by cleaning. “We’re focused on quality, and we translate that into what our customers expect. We’re more consciously focused on dro height and speed of the line.”

Because of this expansion, Primofin now has two cleaning lines for various markets. The potatoes for industry are cleaned in one warehouse, while in another, the potatoes for the fresh market are cleaned. “Primofin is a well-known name in industry, but we still have some work to do among traders for the fresh market.”

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