Gert Lindemann, minister of Agriculture of the German federal state Lower Saxony officially opened the harvest season of the 'Lüneburger Heidekartoffeln' on the
Lüneburger Heide (Lueneburger moor) on Wednesday 20 August by digging the first potato himself. With this action the association 'Schutzgemeinschaft Lüneburger Heidekartoffeln' and the marketing association of the agricultural and food economy of Lower Saxony wanted to bring the new top product to the attention of a large public on the potato market.
The idea of the Schutzgemeinschaft Lüneburger Heidekartoffeln is that the potato will become part of the premium segment of the foodstuff trade. As a regional product the potato is also meant to be a feature and means of advertising for the tourist region Lüneburger Heide.
It has become clear from research that especially with potatoes the regional origin is one of the most important buying criteria. The hallmark of origin is not sufficient on its own to be able to sell something as a premium product. Lüneburger Heidekartoffeln have a light, smooth peel, flat sprouts and yellow flesh. With this they satisfy the classification 'extra'. Only about ten percent of an average potato harvest comply with these criteria.
"The trade and gastronomy are positive about the new trade-mark," Werner Detmering of the marketing association Lower Saxony said. He is also the secretary of the Schutzgemeinschaft Lüneburger Heidekartoffeln.