Rooster Ireland’s top selling spud
WE have been arguing for ages about the quality and flavour of different varieties of spuds.
But research conducted by Keogh’s Farm, the family-owned Irish producer of fresh potatoes and hand cooked crisps in North Country Dublin, has shown that the humble Rooster is in fact the country’s most popular potato.
The study was commissioned to celebrate the fourth National Potato Day which was established to remind the nation of its love for the humble spud.
Ireland’s potato market is valued at €195m to the economy with a 96.6% penetration into 1.6 million households.
Average annual potato consumption is 85kg per person — compared to just 33kg per person per annum worldwide.
The crop was first planted in Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh in the gardens of Myrtle Grove, his Youghal, Co Cork, home in 1585.
The country currently has 540 growers who produced 382,000 tonnes last year, but the Irish Farmers Association said there is need for increased consumer support for an important indigenous industry.
IFA Potato Committee chairman Eddie Doyle also urged retailers to recognise the massive investments potato growers have made in machinery and cold storage to ensure a continuous 12-month supply of Irish product.
“Growers deserve a viable price for their product and potatoes must be sold as a premium product, and not be used in practices such as below cost selling. We cannot see a repeat of the poor prices witnessed last season,” he said.
Mr Doyle said potatoes also have very important health benefits. There is more Vitamin C in a potato than there is in an orange, more fibre than an apple and more potassium than in a banana.
But this year, he said, will see 60,000 fewer tonnes of Irish potatoes in the market, with 9,342 hectares planted — a 15% reduction on 2013.
Noting changing consumer tastes, Lorcan Bourke, Bord Bia, said Irish people love the potato and many of them continue to enjoy traditional potato-based meals.
“But we are seeing increased interest in more contemporary and adventurous ways of cooking potatoes using modern ingredients and internationally influenced recipes,” he said.
The Keogh Farm survey findings show that Leinster (54.25%), had the highest consumption rate for the red skinned Rooster followed by Munster (28.14%) and Connacht (17.61%).
A tough texture variety, it has a wide range of uses such as boiling, steaming, baking, roasting and chipping, making it the perfect family cupboard staple for every day meals.
The research, conducted in conjunction with SuperValu, was based on sales figures from stores nationwide between January and September this year.
It revealed that while Leinster people love Rooster potatoes, Kerr’s Pink, known for its irregular shape and pink hues, stole the hearts of spud lovers in Munster (51.30%). Even though Rooster potatoes rule the roost in Leinster, the Kerr’s Pink combined consumption in Munster and Connacht was 66.83%.
Golden Wonder potatoes were deemed to be the flouriest of the crop. Traditionally available from October to June, these oval shaped delights are perfect for stews and other winter dishes.
Alongside Kerr’s Pink, Golden Wonder potatoes are flying off the shelves in Munster (50.49%) and Leinster (37.36%). In Connacht, there was an even spread with spud eaters enjoying all three varieties; Golden Wonder (12.15%), Kerr’s Pink (15.54) and Rooster (17.61%).
Tom Keogh, general manager and potato expert with Keogh’s Farm, said when they came up with the idea of National Potato Day in 2011, they had no idea it would capture the imagination of so many people in the way it has.
“As Ireland’s leading carbohydrate, it’s no surprise to see that Rooster is still our most popular variety but we are delighted that both Kerr’s Pink and Golden Wonder are finally capturing the hearts of the nation, in particular within Munster,” he said.
The Rooster was one of more than 35 potato varieties bred by Harry Kehoe and his team at what is now Teagasc Oakpark.
He led the breeding programme for over 40 years and is described in the Teagasc book Growing Knowledge – Fifty Years of Research and Development as “one of Europe’s most renowned potato breeders.” by the late broadcaster Joe Murray.
