June Newsletter

Preface Ekrem Suad Sadak

Some time has passed since our last newsletter and I thank you for your patience. We have used the time since our last letter to think through once more the contents you are interested in and the ease of use and access. The year 2023 was marked for us with records and celebrations. Our 35th anniversary we celebrated in Ödemiş with a field day and a final dinner among friends. After breaking not only our internal record but also the record of Turkey for imported seed potatoes we gave publicly the promise to expand our seed service nationwide. The service is expanding.

The demand for seed potatoes for the new season 24/25 was huge. The tableware segment was buoyant and we could not meet the entire demand. The processing segment has increased its demand and fortunately with our early closing of quantities with our shareholders has made us able to meet the requirements. Once more our shareholders have backed us in our strategy.

Our new varieties OTOLIA and PARADISO had a dream launch and will be the talk of the market in the years to come. The new variety DONATA which is especially sought after in the processing segment will follow the same path.

Now, our customers are busy planting seed potatoes. We think already 25/26 to make sure that they get what they want in the quality they want.

Seed Potato Trend in the EU

Currently, we find ourselves in a situation where seed potato acreage on fertile soils is becoming increasingly scarce. One of the contributing factors is the growing demand for French fries and crisps potatoes. The expansion of processing industries worldwide, coupled with the construction of new facilities, has driven contract prices for French fries and crisps to levels that now compete significantly with seed potato acreage. This imbalance in hectare allocations often comes at the expense of the riskier seed potato crop.

The alternating and unpredictable weather conditions only got worse in recent years, especially in 2023, leading not only to tonnage losses but also to not having the seed size we aim for.

The combination of increasing demand by the processing industry with sub-optimal growing condition has lead to increasing prices. Our prediction is that this trend will go into the year 2027.

Our New Generation Potato Seeds Are Now Registered

In April 2024 5 new varieties were protected and given their production permit. KARELIA, TAORMINA and ETANA by EUROPLANT have been chosen to be part of our assortment due to their resistances and yield. Latter will be an excellent addition to our processing portfolio.

From AGRICO Levante and Prince have made this year’s selection process. Levante for its late blight resistance – an every occuring problem in our country- and Prince for the processing segment to fill our gap for white flesh varieties.

Employee in the Spotlight - Oğulcan Özgen

My name is Oğulcan Özgen. I am 40 years old and I live in Cappadocia, a mystical region in the middle of Turkey. I was born and raised in İzmir, the center of contemporary life in the westernmost part of Turkey. I am the oldest of three brothers and growing up like this led me to grow up with a sense of responsibility between being an older brother and a father. After growing up with a life cycle where I took responsibility and woke up with adventure every new day, I hoped that the profession I would earn my living would be in this direction. With the awareness that what you study does not matter in Turkey's conditions, I equipped myself by studying independent departments in an effort to improve myself. While I continued with computer programming after high school and developed algorithmic construction, I learned about trade networks by studying foreign trade and discovered the macro dimensions of microeconomics by studying economics. However, while it never occurred to me to integrate all this equipment with an agricultural company, I formed the parts of a wonderful harmony. Since 2010, I have been continuing to improve myself every day in the potato agricultural sector, where I feel a sense of belonging and with our agile adaptation to new learnings.

Where do you work?

I work at AR TARIM Tohumculuk, the Turkish leg of the Europlant and Agrico BV affiliate group. While AR TARIM is known as the pioneer and game changer of potato farming in Turkey, it has added vision to its strength by merging with its affiliate partnership as of 2014 and is a leading company in its sector in its 36th year. With our paths intersecting in 2015, I am carrying out the Storage and processing operations as the Logistics Manager of our company. Together with Murat Evciler, with whom I work, we continue all our work under our Operations Director Korel Aklan.

What does your job involve?

As the logistics department manager, I ensure the operation of a network covering the storage management of our company. Our work begins with the careful selection of our seed potatoes for our production season and their forwarding to our teammates in the production stage according to their lots and sizes. Along with the harvest, I ensure the operation of our department under the subheadings of Product Entries, Storage Controls, Storage Standardization, Hygiene, Order, Product Processing Operations, Storage Labor, Product Packaging, Product Shipments, ERP and Recording Systems. Most importantly, final checks are made for Happy Customers and the product is delivered to our customers.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The AR TARIM family is a real school in the potato sector. Sometimes we are teachers and sometimes students in this school. I think the fun part of the job starts here. You teach what you learn by taking responsibility and putting it into action with agile thinking. The support your classmates in this school give you is tremendous 😊

In addition, it is really a great pleasure to see our farmers who buy products from our company appreciate what we do when they come to the warehouse.

Another thing I cannot help but mention is the feeling of working in a natural storage carved from rock. Many people have used the rock structure dating back to BC in the mystical texture of the Cappadocia region for years and now we are doing this natural storage operation professionally but with that old feeling. I don't know about this and doing what our ancestors did brings a smile to our faces.

What is going on in your company and position right now?

The AR TARIM family gained momentum with the change that started in 2014, but as Gazi Mustafa Kemal said, "Those who stand still are going backwards!" We have never stopped and will not stop with the principle in our word. We will develop, we will learn… We will work to make our organization permanent without losing the title of the company that first made radical effects in our sector.

I am already excited for the moment when we will show our family's care to our customers and our sector once again with our Afyon region trial field that we will build in August this year.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I hope to be here and work with pleasure in the coming years, see you at the AR TARIM Potato Warehouses on Gülşehir road 4. Km! We always have hot tea and a smiling face is our treat.

Raving Fans - Fahrettin Ateş

Mr. Fahrettin has been a raving fan of us for many years. His love for potatoes, for our varieties and for AR TARIM is eternal. He excelled himself in many aspects. In 2018 he organized together with our COO Korel Aklan the Adana Trial Field for our 30th Anniversary. Following that success he did so with the AGRICO 2019 International Open Day. Again with success. People still talk about it.

He was crucial in introducing new varieties in the ADANA Region. “ I like testing new varieties and new ways of growing. My learning will never stop. These experiences I share with my friends in the potato market” are his words.

Due to his work and pleasant disposition we are happy having him as Brand Ambassador for ADANA since 2021. His love to us gives us a big obligation. We continously need to help him to grow his business. Our team is ready for that and so is Fahrettin. If you want to talk to him please visit Ateşova Tohumculuk (atesovatohumculuk.com)