During the event, students from the local catering school will prepare some dishes using this new type of potato.
In Zoppola, the only co-op of potato producers
"The Region has always favoured potato experimentation, first as "Centro di sperimentazione agraria" and then as Ersa. It analyses the varieties tested by the various companies and assesses their adaptability to soil types and resistance to diseases. Our main organisation within the region is the Co.Pro.Pa cooperative, presided over by Flavio Pighin. It supplies retailers as well as the catering industry. Potatoes are peeled, cooked and vacuum-sealed, so it takes less time to cook them. This treatment does not affect their organoleptic qualities. Co.Pro.Pa is now a member of Aqua, a regional mark that certifies the quality of the product and the entire production system. The co-op has around one hundred members and has been active since 1988. In 2002, it harvested 57 thousand quintals and the trend has remained more or less the same since then. However, I must report that many gave more room to vineyards, in Sauvignon in particular, as they are much more profitable," explains Renato Danielis from the Phytosanitary, chemical, research, experimentation and technical assistance service at Ersa.
400 hectares of potato crops in Friuli
The areas dedicated to potato cultivation in Friuli are Reana del Rojale and Basiliano. The best areas are not too hot, as potatoes are affected by constant high temperatures. "Around 400 hectares are currently dedicated to potato cultivation in Friuli. The most popular variety is Kennebec. It is not very suitable for retail because it does not 'look good' and is not easy to peel/wash, but it is great for making chips and mashed potatoes. In Ovoledo, Marabel are more popular, which are good for all typed of dishes and are easier to wash."
60% of the potatoes we eat come from France
Potato production in Friuli does not meet demand, so much so that around 60% of the produce is imported from France. "Some volumes also come from North Africa, through the port of Trieste, but they are mainly destined for Germany. In Friuli, businesses are too small to produce a lot, then again we have the mountains, so it is hard to cultivate large crops. Often, small family businesses sell their produce directly."