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The organisation of production
The areas put forward for inspection have increased pasts for years from 14,600 to above 16,000 hectares.
There were 16,121 hectares in 2009/2010, which are shared between the three growing regions as follows:
10,424 hectares in the North
4,892 hectares in Brittany
805 hectares in the Central Southern region
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See evolution of the most commonly propagated varieties in France.
Protected varieties are showing sustained growth and currently represent 71% of the areas under propagation against 27% in 1994/1995.
To see the areas under propagation in more detail by variety, click here.
The level of quality
The rejection rate after post-harvest control varies, depending on the year, between 4 and 16%. It is 2.2% in 2009/2009.
The share of French production classed as "basic seed" (super élite and élite) is increasing steadily. Currently it stands at 39%.
This classification corresponds to the commercial demands, but does not show the real quality of French production. In reality, more than 90% of French production can be placed in the European Community classes CE1, CE2 and CE3 (see graphic).
Marketing
The net tonnage of certified seed potatoes is increasing. It was 377,567 tons in 2008/2009 against 239,103 tons in 1996/1997.
80 % of the marketing is carried out by collector/dispatchers companies (50 cases), and 20% by grower/sellers (200 cases).
External trade
The sales of French seed potatoes abroad vary between 80,000 and 100,000 tons.
Past two years, this sales reached record levels above 120,000 tons.
More than 50% of these sales are within the European Union, mainly in Spain, but also in Italy, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands. This country has a tradition of using French seeds for its own exports. Other destinations for French stock are North Africa (Algeria, Egyptia, Morocco, Tunisia) and the Middle East, increasing with 46,5% of the sales since a few years.
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