No small potatoes: Up-to-Dates could expire in the future

South Africa’s much loved, versatile Mondial variety of potato is here to stay, but the Up-to-Date (UTD) variety, popular in the Indian community, might eventually be phased out because of lower yields and profitability for farmers.

South Africa grows over 100 varieties of potatoes, but the most well known include Mondials, which are used to make slap chips and other fries. They bring a higher return on a farmer’s investment than UTD and Sifra potatoes, according to Danie Retief, director and shareholder at Wenpro Potatoes at the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market.

“There’s a big market for the Up-to-Date [potatoes], especially in the Indian communities. They love to cook with the Up-to-Date, because it’s a floury potato,” he said. “So, when you cook it, it actually dissolves in and forms like a gravy in the food, but the farmers don’t plant them so much anymore, and that’s all because of yield.” 

It’s more profitable for farmers to invest in Mondials and Sifras, which are more popular and versatile than UTD potatoes, which are rather niche. 

According to Potatoes South Africa, Mondial and Sifra comprise around 80% of all potatoes traded locally, but demand for UTDs is lower, making it less economically viable for producers to grow than other all-rounder varieties.

“Mondial and Sifra do have a high yield, better disease tolerance and have a better look, size and appearance. They are also adapted to most production areas,” Potatoes South Africa said in response to questions from the Mail & Guardian.

Sifras are household potatoes, round in shape with white flesh and usually good for boiling and making mash. They are popular among the big supermarket retailers, such as Woolworths, Checkers and Pick n Pay. 

Only about 1% of potatoes produced in South Africa are UTD, Potatoes South Africa said, with most of the demand for them in KwaZulu-Natal. 

“The reality is farmers will want to produce what the market demands,” said Thabile Nkunjane, an economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council.

“If there’s no market, or if the market is getting smaller for the varieties, chances are farmers are going to ditch that for a product or for a variety that they see to be [most in] demand by consumers.”

But while the overall market demand for the UTD is relatively low, consumers should not be concerned about it disappearing off the shelves completely, said Nkunjane, a reassurance echoed by Potatoes SA.

“As a niche cultivar, it will still be around for years to come although availability is sometimes a challenge at certain times of the year as UTD do not do well during the hotter months,” the association said.

“South Africans love UTD and, as long as the demand is strong enough to make it worthwhile for producers to grow this cultivar, consumers can still expect availability.”

Pick n Pay confirmed to the M&G that while multiple varieties of potatoes are available to meet demand throughout the year, “the UTD variety is not consistently available due to a limited amount of growers for this particular variety”.

“This is not due to the black frost,” the retailer added, referring to the damage from black frost in Limpopo which resulted in a shortage of mainly large potatoes, including Mondials.

Retief said this had seen prices for Mondials skyrocket in August and September, but they had since stabilised to between R60 and R80 for 10kg at the market, which is the going price for potatoes during this season.  

South Africa is a major exporter of fresh potatoes, especially to other countries on the continent. In 2023, potato exports were valued at R800 million, Nkunjane said.

He said the market has the potential to grow further, given the country’s advantage of producing potatoes throughout the year and across different regions.

Potatoes SA said newer types of potatoes are gaining popularity as they are not only more versatile to the consumers, “but also better adapted to the diverse South African production conditions”.