The pandemic 
may have smashed plans for Ireland to host the 2021 World Potato Congress, as the event has been cancelled. However, there has been a confirmation that Ireland will host the World Potato Congress in 2022.
Really, the congress could not come at a better time for the Irish potato industry. Over recent years, poor weather, increasing production costs and tepid retail prices have all combined to put extreme pressure on potato grower margins.
Still, by far the biggest challenge confronting the industry is the continuing poor image which potatoes have in the minds of many consumers. It is completely misplaced. The potato remains one of the most natural foods that we can eat. If consumed with its jacket on, it represents one of the most valuable sources of nutritional fibre. Potatoes also contain more vitamin C than oranges.
While the potato is a vegetable, nutritionists continue to regard them as a source of starch only. This unfortunately means that potatoes are not included in the list of fruit and vegetables we are expected to consume on a daily basis, as part of a balanced diet.
All in all, to say that potatoes need an image makeover is an understatement. The good news is that a lot of the ground-work on this issue has already been done. Many Irish packers have done a lot to make fresh potatoes more versatile, when it comes to preparing them for the table. But they can’t be expected to do all of the heavy-lifting promotional work on their own.
Dublin will host the 2022 World Potato Congress between May 30 and June 2 next (2022). It is anticipated that the potato industry throughout Ireland will play a key role in highlighting the importance of the sector to our economy.
Source: agriland.ie
March 16, 2021 at 07:57PM
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