Potato glut hits farmers

Thursday, 23 October 2025 06:30

Too many potatoes and not enough storage, that’s the problem facing Bernese farmers this autumn.

Thanks to ideal weather, the harvest has reached 450,000 tonnes, about 20% more than last year.

But demand hasn’t kept up, and a shortage of storage boxes is forcing some farmers to feed surplus potatoes to animals.

In one commune in canton Bern alone, 1,500 tonnes are piling up.

The Swiss Potato Growers’ Union warns against slashing prices to clear stocks, saying that could trigger a price collapse.

Farmers receive partial compensation for unsold crops, but many call the situation “painful.”

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