For the past two nights, we've reported on the plight of the potato farmers in San Antonio and 7 Miles Community, Cayo. They have almost a million pounds of potatoes in cold storage that they're unable to sell. They blame it on the Mexican contraband, which they say is flooding the market. And which consumers also prefer. But Minister Jose Mai says that's not the full story. He explained that the main reason is that the producers are trying to make an extra buck off the consumers by hoarding supply.
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"Last week, my chief agriculture officer and the director of extension met with these farmers from 5 miles and 7 miles in the Cayo District. At this moment, they are the only people that have potatoes but they have cold storage. And I don't agree with sometimes what they do but I understand why they do it. These farmers store their potatoes and kept it of course you know you store it longer and then you sell at the end of the crop when nobody has at a high price. I think they didn't manage to balance it well because you cannot force people to pay a high price. They met and they said we have a contraband problem. Contraband has always been here. The question is, you have to manage it. Is it that much that will allow you to lose or not? BAHA, supplies control, customs have been out here and we haven't seen much white potatoes in the market. You see them not and again. So we are telling them we are controlling it but storing your potatoes, holding it, and raising it until the end of the crop at $2 a pound is not cutting it with the consumer. And the producer deserves the best but the consumer also deserves the best in quality and in price. And so I think that they miscalculated the time. And of course you know we control the importation, we control how much is imported so they will say well you hold down the importation until I could sell my potatoes at $2 a pound. Potatoes in Orange Walk were selling at $1.80 so when they met with my team, my team told them, you are selling at $2 a pound, in Orange Walk is $1.80. so the wholesalers will go to Orange Walk to buy it at $1.80. they were selling at wholesale price at $2 a pound. So 100 pound sack is $200."
