Ireland’s humble spud no longer king of the carbs

THE potato - once a staple of the national diet - could face extinction if it doesn’t make a return to our kitchen tables.

Changing lifestyles and eating habits mean the humble spud is being overtaken by rice, pasta and TV dinners.

The drop in demand has hit the industry hard and there are just 650 growers in the country compared to 1,700 a decade ago.

State food agency Bord Bia has commissioned a series of research projects to gauge consumer attitudes among the 26-35 age group.

Information gleaned from questionnaires and shopper interviews will be used in a major promotional campaign aimed at putting the potato back at the centre of the Irish diet.

Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan believes the potato may have an image with young people who see it as time-consuming to cook, fattening and unfashionable.

“We have to tackle this image problem and actively promote the potato as a healthy, versatile and convenient food.”

The Irish Farmers’ Association believes that high production costs, falling market demand and cheap imports are all forcing many growers out of business.

“We’ve seen a massive haemorrhage of the sector in recent years,” said IFAPotato Committee executive secretary Kieran Leddy.

He said apart from consumers, many hotels and restaurants were not using Irish potatoes.

“It’s difficult to get an Irish potato when you go somewhere for lunch now - it’s usually the small salad potatoes imported from France.”

But the Irish still eat the most potatoes in the EU - each household bought 190kg last year. However, production is the lowest in the EU after Luxembourg, as only 400,000 tonnes were produced last year compared to more than one million in 1980.

It is predicted the country’s 500 small growers - those with less than 70 acres - will exit the industry in the next five years leaving just 150 big operators.

Over-production during the past two years created a glut in the market and supermarkets were able to squeeze down the price to the grower.

But demand could outstrip supply this year and farmers will be able to holdout for better prices.

Co Meath grower John Sheridan said Irish consumers deserved better.

“The imports are nothing short of cattle feed. They are watery and have notaste,” said Mr Sheridan.