Why it’s hard to find traditional varieties
If you go looking for traditional potato varieties like Dutch Cream and Sebago in your local supermarket, good luck. They have disappeared, replaced by proprietary brands like Carisma and Royales or others boasting reduced carbs.
What has happened? Why are growers and retailers switching to proprietary varieties?
PEST & DISEASE RESISTANCE
Proprietary varieties are bred to be resistant to soil-borne pests. One disease in particular is making life difficult for potato farmers. Potato cyst nematode (PCN) is a major challenge for the industry that can no longer be controlled solely by chemicals.
CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Potatoes were planted here in 1788, initially close by the new English settlement at Farm Cover. As Australia opened up, potatoes were grown where soil and climate were ideal. However, conditions have changed in the 240 years since then. New varieties have been developed to withstand environmental stressors which lead to poorer quality and crops – such as heatwaves, droughts, and excessive moisture.
BETTER YIELDS
Some of these new proprietary varieties counter these changed conditions by delivering higher yields. Growers can produce more with fewer resources, a crucial factor given rising production costs.
REDUCED RELIANCE ON CHEMICALS
To control diseases like PCN, farmers increasingly rely on chemicals. Disease-resistant varieties reduce the reliance on chemical treatments, aligning with sustainability goals and regulatory changes.
What are the dangers for retailers and consumers?
REDUCED CHOICE OF VARIETY
Retailers like Coles, Woolworths and Aldi work most efficiently when they offer limited variety in large quantity. As supermarkets shift to fewer proprietary varieties, consumers have access to less diversity in the potatoes available.
HIGHER COSTS AND PRICES
Overcoming production challenges and developing new varieties is expensive. These increased costs are passed on to retailers and ultimately consumers. We’re paying more and getting less choice.
UNFAMILIARITY
By stocking fewer varieties, retailers reduce costs. However, potato sales have been in decline. One study suggests that a reason for this is that consumers are unfamiliar with these new varieties. They simply don’t what potato variety to use in place of familiar varieties.
POTENTIAL SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS
With fewer robust, diverse varieties in circulation, any widespread disease or climate event could significantly disrupt potato supply, impacting availability and affordability.
The solution?
FARMERS MARKETS TO THE RESCUE
Farmers markets attract food-savvy shoppers who know their Bintjes from their Kipflers.
This is where farmers growing traditional varieties on small landholdings connect directly with their consumers.
This is where potatoes are labelled by variety – Sebago or Dutch Cream – and not by brand or useless generic labels – new, washed, dirty.
At IIF, we’re all for food innovation. We have promoted producers introducing new foods or new farming techniques. We also applaud farmers committed to growing traditional varieties with love and care.
You can support our farmers by joining the IIF Co-operative. You can read about the benefits here.
