The Thuringian State Institute for Agriculture and the Thuringian Quality Potato Producers' Association (THÜKAV) hosted the Thuringian Potato Day at the Friemar Experimental Station on 8 November 2023. Thuringia's Minister of Agriculture Susanna Karawanskij crowned the "Bernina" potato variety from the "Europlant" breeding centre as the Thuringian Potato of the Year 2023. In her opening speech, Susanna Karawanskij spoke out in favour of the Thuringian potato and hoped to raise more awareness of the topic of "potatoes in Thuringia" in the future.
Other finalists for Thuringian Potato of the Year were the varieties "Mia", "Ballerina" and "Camelia". After the traditional Heichelheim potato harvest in September, numerous tasting events were held throughout Thuringia. The participants rated the tubers according to taste, beauty of shape, flesh colour and flouriness, among other things. With 37 per cent of the votes and 740 points, "Bernina" won the most votes.
Experts from the industry also gave specialist presentations on topics such as the current situation in potato cultivation in Thuringia, potato variety trials for 2023, intercropping and metribuzin-free weed control. The approximately 100 guests consisted of representatives from the State Institute for Agriculture, farms, potato breeders, marketers and employees of the Friemar research station. The high level of media interest in the Thuringian Potato Day and the crowning of the Thuringian Potato of the Year is testament to the importance of the event for the industry.
The event was rounded off by the children of the Friemar kindergarten, who entertained the participants with their musical contributions as part of the "Kids an die Knolle" ("Kids on the Tuber") campaign.
For more information:
Erzeugnisverband Thüringer Qualitätskartoffeln e. V.
99439 Heichelheim
Weg nach Schwerstedt 16
Telefon: 0172 / 425 565 4
Fax: 0361 / 262 918 9
Mail: [email protected]
www.thuekav.de
www.karland.de