Assortment of organic potato varieties greatly extended

As of January 12th a large number of new potato varieties are being presented in De Groene Winkel in Zeist. This means that this organic shop is first in the Netherlands to have over six organic, phytophthora resistant varieties on their shelves. This is being celebrated with a special Potato week, in which customers can taste, judge and chose recipes. They are get the chance to meet the silent power behind these new varieties. Young organic potato growers and researchers who worked on the development of these robust varieties will give presentations in the shop.

Whilst the organic sector is growing, the area of organic potatoes is lacking. This is due to the potato disease phytophthora, which is still a big risk for the organic grower, and against which no chemicals can be used. This is why organic growers are constantly looking for strong, disease proof varieties. In a short period of time a large assortment of robust organic varieties has been developed. Some have been around for years like Bionica (Niek's Witte) and Sarpo Mira. The new varieties are Carolus, Connect and Vitabella. One variety is so new that it is not yet fully available, Alouette.

Introducing new potato varieties isn't easy, as most consumers buy their potatoes out of habit. "We know that consumers only consider new varieties if they can taste them. This is why we are organising this Potato campaign: it's unique to have this many great varieties available," says Rudi Gerding, owner of De Groene Winkel. "The role of wholesalers and shop keepers is very important: only when they take the new varieties into their assortment does it become possible for growers to invest in these new varieties."

In the framework of the EU project CO-FREE, the Louis Bolk Institute is involved in the development of strategies for launching new resistant potato varieties on the shop floor. Natural food shopkeepers and growers can get to know the new varieties at the Louis Bolk Institute stand at the Bio fair in Zwolle (21 and 22 January 2015). They will also be presented at the international organic trade fair BIOFACH in Neurenberg (Germany) from 11-14 February 2015. There are also folders for growers with variety traits, and tasty recipes for the consumer. Click here for the folder.

For a number of years now the breeding programme Bioimpuls of the Louis Bolk Institute and Wageningen UR, along with the breeding companies and organic growers has supported the development of new robust varieties. They can be well used by organic agriculturalists. The CO-FREE project complements Bioimpuls and focuses on market pilots from a chain approach.