Country suits the German market well!

15 December 2025

Table potato variety Country is attracting growing interest in the German market. The need for a stress-resistant, high-yielding variety with good skin quality prompted Böhmer to start trials with Country in 2023. “Country has the whole package,” says Clemens Kisters of Böhmer. “Based on the promising results so far, we consider Country to be a valuable addition to our range.”

In a market where climate conditions are unpredictable and demands for yield, robustness, and appearance are rising, the search for a potato that truly stands out is ongoing. Country is one such variety: it combines resistance and high yield with an attractive skin and homogeneity. This has not gone unnoticed at Böhmer either. Field advisor Clemens Kisters, involved in the trials with Country from the very beginning, tells us about the company's experiences with the new table potato variety.

Clemens Kisters in the middle (Photo: Böhmer)

Fresh potato market demands great appearance

Böhmer is a family-run company specialized in growing, packing, and distributing potatoes and onions for the German retail market. With a share of around 75 percent, potatoes are the most important product group for the Mönchengladbach-based company. The main production areas in Germany are Lower Saxony, East Germany, Magdeburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Pfalz, and Bavaria. “Spread across these regions, around 700 growers produce potatoes for us on an area of 5500 hectares,” says Clemens. “From one of our seven strategically located packing stations, we wash and pack the potatoes locally and deliver them directly to supermarkets.”

The company focuses entirely on the fresh table market, where the appearance of the potato is crucial. German consumers are known for their high standards. Clemens explains: “Our customers are critical of the skin quality of the potato. They prefer yellow, shiny potatoes without blemishes and are quite particular about imperfections. Besides the price, consumers buy potatoes based on their appearance and taste.”

Promising results since first trials

Böhmer began testing the variety Country in 2023, conducting trials at five different locations across Germany. The decision to trial Country was driven by the need for a variety that could withstand drought, is strong against common skin blemishes and offers good uniformity in sorting. “In addition, we need mealy cooking types in our range, which Country is,” he adds. In 2024, Böhmer expanded the trial and in 2025, the company planted the Country variety on even more hectares, across various growing areas.

The initial results are promising. Clemens: “Country appears to be a strong and easy-to-grow variety, producing a very homogeneous tuber size. This is an important advantage for sorting and packaging. We also found that the plant grows very fast, and it’s a little bit earlier than other varieties we’ve been testing.”

Challenging conditions and high standards

Looking ahead, Böhmer plans to expand the acreage of Country in the coming years and introduce the variety in new regions. “Even on ‘new land’, such as former mining areas where irrigation is difficult and the soil is less fertile, we have good expectations for Country because of its adaptivity.”

Böhmer’s goal is to find varieties that can thrive under challenging conditions and continue to meet the high standards of the German market. Country is emerging as a high-potential potato variety. “With its resistance to drought and diseases, high yield, fine sorting opportunities, great taste and attractive appearance, Country has the whole package”, Clemens notes. “Our experience suggests that this potato variety can offer significant added value for growers, packers, retailers, and consumers. We will be keeping a close eye on Country in the coming years.”

Country: suitable for every country!

Country is a robust, tasty packing variety with a high marketable yield. With its strong climate adaptivity and homogenous tuber size, Country (CMK2017-039-011) is a very sustainable option for packers, farmers and traders. Security of supply for the whole chain is a key for the future!

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