Potato processing climate

Nowadays potato is one of the major food crops in the world. Heavy yields can be grown relatively cheaply in a wide variety of soils and climates, and potatoes are one of the mainstays in the diet of people in many parts of the world. In 2005 total EU 25 (Europe of the 25) potato production reached 58 848 0731, with yields of 29.2 t/ha and a cultivation area of 1 985 358 ha (British Potato Council, 2007). Thus, potato processing and potato products are popular and acceptable throughout Europe. Figure 7.1 shows the 2005 production and external trade in processed potatoes for the European Union (25 countries). The main item is frozen potatoes, including prefried, at 3 414 9311, followed by potatoes prepared or preserved as potato chips or crisps, 1 647 9501 dried potatoes in the form of flour, meal, flakes, granules, and flakes, 280 3771 potatoes prepared or preserved in the form of flour, meal, or flakes (excluding frozen, dried, crisps), 207 0371 and 18 9861 of dried potatoes not further prepared (Eurostat, 2005). Frozen potato products account for more than 61% of all potatoes that are processed, crisps for... 

There are a number of cultural and environmental conditions which prevail during the growing season and strongly affect the processing quality of potatoes climate, rainfall, irrigation and soil moisture, soil type, time of planting and harvesting, kind and amount of fertilizers used, and control of insects and diseases. 

For many centuries potato, Solanum tubersum, has served as the primary food source for people in many parts of the world. The potato, with a total production in excess of 300 million tons, is one of the major food crops grown in a wide variety of soils and climatic conditions. Many cultivars of potatoes are grown, however, a few cultivars account for most of the potatoes produced. These differ in time of maturity, yield, appearance, disease resistance, marketing, and processing quality. The majority of potatoes are used as table food these days, frequently consumed in different forms of processed potato products. In developed countries, more than... 

---