New variety needs a name
23 June 2008
Children visiting the Celebration of Food and Farmers at the Eden Project on 20th , 21st and 22nd June are being invited to enter a competition to name a brand new potato variety - currently known only as Variety Number: 00.H.14 A3. It is believed that this is the first time members of the public, particularly children, have been asked to name a new potato.
There are thousands of potato varieties grown and harvested around the world, many of them named after places, such as the Pentland Javelin, or people, like the well known King Edward. In Peru, where the potato originated some 8,000 years ago, the varieties have descriptive names such as "Red mermaid", "Male guinea pig with scattered spots" and "Clod of earth the shape of a fingernail".
Branston's new variety is related to the traditional Peruvian potato species Solanum phureja, which has a stronger taste and a firmer texture than the cultivated potato species Solanum tuberosum. It has a creamy, yellow flesh and its skin has distinctive pink colouration.
It has taken several years of careful development and now Branston is inviting children to use their imaginations to come up with a name for this new potato. With its excellent flavour and smooth texture, 00.H.14 A3 is a multi-purpose type of potato, ideal for anything from salads to roasting.
David Nelson, Field Director at Branston said: "We are delighted to be involved with the Eden Project's Celebration of Food and Farmers and it seemed like an ideal opportunity to introduce our new variety to the public. There will be thousands of people there over the weekend and we're hoping to harness some of their creative energies. We're looking forward to reading the entries and seeing the children's suggestions for a name. It's a novel way for them to use their imagination and possibly see their idea in the shops in years to come."
Eden Project's Agency Liaison Officer, Paul Holmes added: "With our particular interest in world crops, we have been working closely with Branston and we're growing some samples of their new variety here at the Project. The competition is a great idea to get children thinking about food and farming and having some fun."
Entry forms will be available from the Branston display where visitors will also get the chance to find out more about potatoes in Tesco stores, as well as in Peru and Cornwall and to meet some of Branston's Cornish growers. Cornwall's climate creates ideal conditions for growing potatoes, both as an early and a main crop. Cornish Earlies are a vital part of Cornwall's rural economy and are the first of the British potato crops to herald the Spring each year.