When it comes to potatoes, sometimes smaller is better. There has been a growing consumer demand across North America for smaller spuds. Colleen Walton said it is easy to see why - they take less time to cook and there is visual appeal in a more petite potato.
Walton is the technical director for FoodTrust of Prince Edward Island. With financial help from the PEI ADAPT Council, (which administers the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Fund in the province for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) FoodTrust is conducting a two-year research project on what small varieties grow best in the Island climate. FoodTrust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to rebuilding the link between producers and consumers. The organization works with Prince Edward Island growers and harvesters to establish sustainable growing standards that respond to the consumer need for a safe, high quality food source. As well, the organization is looking at ways to adapt conventional harvesting equipment to bring a small sized crop off the field.
“Commercial harvesters really aren't set up to handle potatoes under two inches in diameter,” she explained. Since the growing season in Prince Edward Island is relatively short compared to some other potato growing areas, Walton said the trial will focus on picking varieties that will allow the industry to supply small potatoes to the marketplace on a year round basis.
She said FoodTrust has been conducting research on the success of small potatoes grown throughout the world. She said there is a company in Alberta that specializes in small potatoes and they have also been grown on a commercial scale in the United Kingdom.
“One thing you learn very quickly in the potato business is that there is no such thing as a typical year,” she said. “As well, we have to take into account the Island climate and soil - just because a variety flourishes in another part of the world doesn't mean it will grow well here.”
FoodTrust and its partner growers have already enjoyed considerable success in introducing new and innovative products to the consumer marketplace locally, nationally and internationally. Summerside Farms Pork, sold exclusively through Co-op Atlantic stores, has been a major seller. Fresh Obsession potatoes were introduced at A&P stores in Ontario in 2003. Last Christmas season, a new yellow flesh “fingerling” potato was added to the Fresh Obsessions line for a limited time.
More recently it introduced blue potatoes to the market. On the plate for the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons are the yellow flesh fingerling potato, a new red skin/yellow flesh variety, a blue skin/white flesh with blue streaks variety, and a yellow flesh variety with pink eyes.
(This is one of a series of articles prepared by the PEI Agricultural Awareness Committee and funded by the PEI ADAPT Council and other partners to highlight new and innovative developments in the province's farming community.)