Know How
Expert potato processing starts with impeccable quality of the raw material. That is why Lutosa pays particular attention to this aspect. We work primarily with the Bintje potato variety that is grown mainly in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, especially in the rich alluvial soils found around our three production sites.
Our group processes 600,000 tons of potatoes per year, representing around 30% of Belgian production. These are purchased from around 50 merchants and 350 farmers under direct fixed-price contracts accompanied by quality bonuses. Our farming partners are therefore our primary guarantee. We develop a special relationship with them, which ranges from providing advice on fertilisers and the establishment of an efficient traceability system through to disease treatment.
Some of our potato requirements are stored at our production sites.
As the harvest is in September and we need potatoes until May/June, it is essential that special attention is paid to storage conditions. The potatoes are stored in huge air-conditioned warehouses at a temperature of 8°C. Temperature and moisture levels are controlled entirely by computer. To keep them constant, the computer automatically opens external shutters and activates huge fans. Cold air is blown through underground ventilation shafts into the potato store to lower the temperature.
