Wednesday, February 08, 2012
The Rooster has taken centre stage for Irish potato growers exhibiting their products at the week-long Fruit Logisitica trade fair in Berlin, Germany.
Now accounting for 56% of all potatoes grown in Ireland, the Rooster is the number one choice of potato for domestic consumers. The German trade buyers visiting the Bord Bia-hosted Irish stand in Berlin were also impressed by the variety’s all-round suitability for boiling, baking, steaming, mashing, roasting and chipping.
Bord Bia horticulture manager Mike Neary said: "Following the successful exporting of potatoes to Eastern Europe last season of approximately 70,000 tonnes, the industry was keen to strengthen and build on existing market contacts and to find potential new buyers across a wide range of countries for Irish-grown Rooster potatoes.
"We have undertaken a pre-event trade marketing and awareness campaign to promote the Irish potato industry’s presence at this high profile event, including targeting over 60 key influential foreign buyers to visit the Taste Ireland stand."
Bord Bia has developed a new international trade website — on www.potato.ie — to support the export market initiative, which will go live for the Fruit Logistica trade fair.
Irish exhibitors attending the Berlin fair include Country Crest, Dublin; Sam Dennigan and& Co, Palmerstown, Co Dublin; Meade Potato Co Ltd, Navan, Co Meath; K&K Produce, The Ward, Dublin; Peter Keogh and& Sons, Oldtown, Co Dublin; and Irish Potato Marketing, Sandyford, Dublin.
Irish Potato Federation president Liam Glennon added: "This season has generated another high quality potato crop and a temporary surplus against a backdrop of reduced demand on the domestic market. The 2011 season saw exports play an important role in the Irish potato market.
"This experience has shown that there are opportunities to develop the potato export market. The strong Irish participation at Fruit Logisitica is an important step in this direction."
It is estimated there are 540 potato growers in Ireland. Over 375,000 tonnes of potatoes were produced from 10,003 hectares in 2011. The Rooster accounts for 56% of potatoes grown, while Kerr’s Pink account for 10%, Queens, 8%, Golden Wonder at 3% and Records at 2%.
The counties with the highest percentage of area involved in potato production are Meath with 27%, Dublin at 16% and Louth at 15%, closely followed by Wexford at 13%, Donegal at 10% and Cork at 6%.
Meanwhile, only 55% of British consumers are familiar with the Rooster, versus 84% awareness of King Edwards and 83% for Maris Piper.
On the positive side, the recent SixthSense consumer market research study of potato purchase and consumption in Britain found four in 10 households serve potatoes two to three times a week, while a further quarter serve potatoes more often.
The study also suggested most British consumer awareness of potatoes is based around usage — as jacket, bakers, mash or roast potatoes — rather than any great knowledge of varieties.
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