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Hot weather shrinks size of German fries

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BERLIN | Fri Jul 23, 2010 12:36pm EDT

BERLIN (Reuters) - French fries in Germany could be significantly shorter this year due to the heatwave that has baked Germany and much of Europe this month, the German Farmers' Association (DBV) said on Friday.

Hot and dry weather has led to a meager harvest of extra-large potatoes used to produce the ideal-length French fry.

"The French fries industry and consumers will have to brace themselves for shorter fries," said spokeswoman Verena Telaar, adding that smaller potatoes mean that fries will probably be 45 millimeters (1.8 inches) long at best, down from the usual 55 mm (2.2 inches).

Germany produces 11 million metric tons of potatoes a year, about 10 percent of which are turned into French fries.

(Reporting by Max Chrambach; Editing by Steve Addison)
Oddly Enough
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Comments (3)
Acushla wrote:
When the SUN becomes blazing scorching hot with green grass burning, food will become scarce. Heat waves in Northern Hemisphere is the start of what is going to happen. Here in Australia we have had record breaking flooding rainfalls.

Jul 23, 2010 6:43pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
Jayarrt wrote:
Funny, that happens to my fries in *cold* weather…

Jul 24, 2010 2:23am EDT  --  Report as abuse
oldtimer78 wrote:
Fries should be sold by weight, as should be all commodities. If potatoes are in short supply due to a poor harvest, no doubt the price will go up anyway. Selling by weight is the only way consumers can judge of value received.

Jul 26, 2010 1:23pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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