The 2024 growing year was extremely challenging for Swiss sweet potatoes. "But it was also difficult for all the other products grown, processed, and stored on our farm," says Christian Hurni, co-managing director of Batati GmbH, based in Fräschels (Canton Fribourg). Spring started out wet, with few dry windows of opportunity for planting. After a relatively cool summer, the company started the fall season late but was still confident. However, the harvest was repeatedly slowed down by continuous rainfall, as the management of the specialized sweet potato company summarizes.
"Accordingly, the soil residue in the boxes harvested at the end of the campaign was high," says Co-Managing Director Simon van der Veer, adding: "Leap year equals cold year, as the old farmers in Switzerland say. Somehow, this year was true to that saying." The harvest was completed in the last week of October. Thanks to optimal storage technology, the goods could be perfectly conditioned. "We currently expect to be able to connect to the new harvest," predicts Hurni, who is responsible for storage and processing at the company, as well as day-to-day business.
Prices have remained almost stable, with sales of sweet potatoes remaining largely stable. The same applies to the input costs, which are mostly moving sideways. "Only the recruitment of employees and the associated increase in wages are noticeable in the income statement," explains van der Veer. "We are trying to further increase efficiency in our operations through optimized processes and a new washing machine. The washing machine, which works without brushes, was put into operation in spring 2024. The cleaning process uses a combination of air and water, which makes it a gentle process. However, the system still has a few growing pains, which have now been or are being gradually eliminated."
Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes take center stage
Batati GmbH was founded in 2014 and has been dedicated to the production, processing, storage, and marketing of local sweet potatoes for ten years now. The orange-fleshed Beauregard varieties are still grown. The main variety grown is Indosweet. "Colored sweet potatoes are only sold in selected farm shops, so we no longer grow such experimental varieties," confirms van der Veer.
Establishment of the Hurni-van der Veer business partnership
The sweet potatoes are produced on a total of nine farms, which produce sweet potatoes exclusively on behalf of Batati GmbH. Among them is the Hurni-van der Veer business partnership, which was founded on January 1, 2024, and emerged from the respective parent companies. Hurni: "This collaboration enables us to produce more efficiently and effectively, to focus on our core tasks, and also to go on vacation with our families without feeling guilty." In addition to sweet potatoes, the group also produces other field vegetables such as pumpkins, garlic, asparagus, onions, celery, and potatoes.
"We are looking forward to the upcoming growing and marketing season. Every day with sweet potatoes is exciting, challenging, and interesting," conclude Hurni and van der Veer in unison.
For more information:
Christian Hurni & Simon van der Veer
Batati GmbH
Moosgasse 20
3284 Fräschels
Tel: +41 79 224 60 04
[email protected]
www.batati.ch
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