Food
Supply of chipping potato used for fries tightens globally: DA
MANILA – Some fast-food chains in the country have been experiencing a tighter supply of chipping potatoes for several weeks now.
John Van Lorino, 21, a fast food crew in Cavite, said they have limited their serving to regular sizes, as suppliers have been delayed in deliveries.
“Last few months, no fries stocks are coming to us ma’am, even those pouches for fries, there’s none. There are only regular-sized pouches being delivered to us, that’s why [customers] can’t avail of large to extra large [fries],” he told the PNA in Filipino.
Lorino noted that it was his first time experiencing the scenario in his three years in their company. However, he said their management has not imposed any official measures yet.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earlier confirmed there is a global shortage in the processing variety of potatoes, particularly those commonly used for fast food fries.
Filipino farmers mostly grow table potatoes and unfortunately, producing such variety locally is not yet seen as viable yet.
“Production of chipping potatoes is in its trial stage but so far the results are unfavorable,” Agriculture Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista told the PNA in a separate interview.
In an earlier report, Evangelista said fast-food chains are more likely to be affected by the limited supply.
“Mas nararamdaman po ‘yan sa mga fast food chains because ‘yung mga chipping potatoes po ang shortage po globally at ‘yan po ay inaangkat din po nation (It’s more likely felt in our fast-food chains because the chipping potatoes have shortage globally and we are importing that variety),” she said by phone.
She added that the supply of locally-produced table potatoes remains stable.
Meanwhile, DA-Cordillera Region Agribusiness Division Chief Joan Bacbac told the PNA: “In terms of (table) potatoes naman, wala pong shortage, actually maganda po ang presyo (the price is good), from PHP40 the previous days, naging (it became) PHP33 siya, so maganda-ganda pa ang presyo (the price is quite good).”
Christopher Burac
May 25, 2022 at 11:22 AM
French fries is definitely my most favorite snack and hearing that there is a shortage in the supply in potato makes me sad but somehow this could be good to us,since we can no longer buy the large sized french fries in fast food chain it would actually be good to our health, though I said that french fries is my favorite fast food I won’t deny the fact that it is very unhealthy,so having the people buy only the small sized one will prevent them from containing too much salt and trans fat in their body that might lead to cardiovascular diseases..
Vilma Si
May 25, 2022 at 8:43 PM
The most favourite snacks of all time, French Fries. Seeing a potato shortage makes me sad and unravel happy because not all the time there will be available stocks of it. But thinking logically, a potato food that is fried make our body unhealthy because of the companion with oil. And we all know that oil can make and lead to cardiovascular diseases because of its content high in cholesterol, high fats and its calories