Record low potato harvest in Switzerland expected to drive up food prices

The severe weather this summer has caused Switzerland's 2026 potato harvest to hit its lowest level on record. What does this mean for the potato supply and grocery prices this coming winter?

Why is Switzerland facing a record-low potato harvest?

Whether you prefer raclette, rösti, chips, or simply boiled, potatoes are a staple Swiss food in every household. Recent figures, however, are leaving residents wondering whether they’ll be able to stock up on this kitchen staple over the cosy autumn and winter months. 

The Swiss potato industry association Swisspatat has revealed that the 2026 summer potato harvest was the “smallest ever recorded over a hundred years,” reports SRF. In total, 333.000 tons of potatoes were harvested, 20 percent fewer than the average number harvested in the past five years. 

The yield per hectare was 29,4 tonnes, the “lowest it’s been in over 60 years.” There’s also now even less land that is optimised for potato cultivation. In 1944, 90.000 hectares were used to grow potatoes, while in 2026 the number has shrunk to 11.000 hectares. 

The reason for the lack of Swiss-grown potatoes was the hot, dry weather caused by climate change that gripped the country this summer. Swisspatat is calling for artificial irrigation infrastructure to be expanded to prevent this from happening in the future.

Will there be a potato shortage in Switzerland this winter?

Swisspatat CEO Christian Bucher reassured shoppers that Switzerland won’t run out of potatoes over the coming months. “We assume that the supply is secure and there will be no crisis,” explains Bucher.

To plug the supply gap, 130.000 tonnes of potatoes will be imported, which will reduce the Swiss potato sufficiency rate from around 80 percent to 70 to 75 percent. What consumers may find, however, is noticeably smaller potatoes than usual and higher supermarket prices on the horizon.