Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / SHROPSHIRE
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Friday, 6 October 2006, 09:10 GMT 10:10 UK

New potato variety to hit shops

Mayan Gold A Shropshire farm has been showcasing its first crop of the newest potato to be grown in Britain for 400 years.

Named Mayan Gold, the crop has taken 15 years to develop after an ancient variety was brought back from Peru.

The Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) made the breakthrough using intensive breeding to trick the plant into forgetting its tropical roots.

Greenvale, based in Market Drayton, is producing the potatoes commercially for the first time.

'Appreciate the flavour'

Nigel Kerby, from the SCRI, said it was found to have a very full flavour.

There is less yield per acre than with conventional potatoes but growers say they have more flavour than normal spuds which bulk up on water and they are quicker to cook.

Paul Coleman, from Greenvale said: "It just delivers so much more for the consumer.

"We hope that this will revolutionise millions of dinner plates and that they will just appreciate the flavour of potatoes much, much more than they do with current varieties."

They are now being packed up for delivery to supermarkets this weekend.




E-mail this to a friend

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Greenvale Potato Growers
Scottish Crop Research Institute
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©