Main points
- In Berlin, due to a record potato harvest, a free distribution campaign was launched, part of which was sent to Ukraine.
- The campaign, called 4000 Tonnes, was organized by a Berlin newspaper in conjunction with the eco-friendly search engine Ecosia, and also involved charities and the Berlin Zoo.
Potato surplus in Berlin / Photo Hannibal Hanschke/EPA
After the biggest potato harvest in 25 years, Germany is facing a surplus of products. In Berlin, a large-scale free distribution campaign has been launched, involving charities, the zoo and ordinary citizens of the city.
Germans have too many potatoes
Germans are traditionally among the biggest potato consumers in Europe, averaging about 63 kilograms per person per year, The Guardian reports. However, this year's record harvest, the largest in a quarter of a century, proved excessive even for such demand.
The surplus was dubbed the Kartoffel-Flut – “potato flood.” One farmer initiated a large-scale campaign in Berlin, calling on citizens to come to designated points and collect potatoes for free.
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Part of the harvest has already been donated to soup kitchens, homeless shelters, kindergartens, schools, churches and non-profit organizations. The Berlin Zoo also joined the “rescue operation” – the animals were given tons of potatoes that would otherwise have gone to the landfill or to biogas production. Two more trucks of potatoes were sent to Ukraine.
Even Berliners are sorting through their surplus potatoes
Berliners, many of whom are feeling the pressure of rising living costs, are arriving at the distribution points with bags, buckets and handcarts. The campaign, called 4000 Tonnes, was organized by a Berlin newspaper in conjunction with the eco-friendly non-profit search engine Ecosia.
According to participants, the initiative came during a period of arctic cold, which made it difficult to move around the city and paralyzed public transport. Despite this, the atmosphere at the distribution points was almost festive: people helped each other carry heavy bags and exchanged cooking tips.
Amid the campaign, potato recipes are being widely shared on social media, and experts are once again emphasizing its nutritional value, including its vitamin C and potassium content. Famous chefs have also joined in the promotion of the product, offering original dishes and classic recipes.
At the same time, some farmers criticize the free distribution, saying that the Berlin market is already oversaturated, and such an action further devalues the harvest. Environmental activists link the situation to systemic imbalances in European agricultural and food policies.
Please note! Organizers report that the final stage of the “potato flood” is expected in the coming days. According to preliminary estimates, about 3.2 tons of potatoes remain to be distributed.
Potato imports to Ukraine increased fivefold in 2025: who supplies the most?
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In 2025, potato imports to Ukraine increased 5.3 times, reaching 138.41 thousand tons, and the main suppliers were Poland, Egypt, and the Netherlands.
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Ukrainian potato exports decreased by 11.2%, but brought more foreign exchange earnings, with Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Georgia remaining the main markets.