West Country Potato Farmers Today Urged Consumers To Pick Up Potatoes!

West Country potato farmers took action today (19 June 2008) at Exeter’s Farmers Market – as research from Potato Council shows the younger generation are forsaking potatoes for pasta. This is despite the fact that potatoes offer more nutrients for your money, including iron.  According to the latest NDNS survey around 40% of women under 50, are consuming well below the recommended daily intake of this vital nutrient.i

Simon Rimmer, BBC 2’s Something For The Weekend’s presenter and chef, was on hand to show just how versatile and economical potatoes are. As a parent himself, Simon knows how little time there is sometimes to prepare the evening meal, especially during the week. He was keen to demonstrate his favourite potato dishes, whilst keeping an eye on our wallets and waists.

Simon commented: “With the current credit crunch, a staple home-grown crop like potatoes is, as it was to our grandparents, so important. A bag of potatoes offers such tremendous value and so many options!

“From melt in the mouth mash with sausages, to summer salads, potatoes make great accompaniments but also are an ideal meal solution. Fill a jacket potato with bolognaise sauce or curry, roast chicken drumsticks with potato wedges - the choice is endless. Potatoes are a really fast food – but good for you too!”

Simon chatted to mums and members of the public about their shopping and cooking dilemmas, and demonstrated how we can all make the most of potatoes throughout the week, with low-cost everyday meal ideas!

Local mum Claire Baxter said: “We use lots of potatoes but I still had no idea that they contained so much iron. Simon has also given me some great ideas for different ways for potatoes – that are so quick and easy.”

Potato Council’s nutritionist Fiona Hunter explained: “Many people may be surprised to know that potatoes offer more nutrients for your money compared to rice or pasta. Aside from iron, potatoes are also packed with potassium which may help to lower blood pressure and is necessary in helping to control the balance of fluids in the body.  Although technically not a vegetable, a portion of potatoes also contains more vitamin C than an apple and vitamins B6 and B1 plus folate.”

For further information, including hints and tips from Simon Rimmer himself, please visit www.britishpotatoes.co.uk

Please contact the Ceres Partnership (details below) for a post event interview, on-the-day images or further information :

David Gough or Lisa Woodman
Ceres Partnership
Tel: 0118 947 5956
M: 07818 075 065
E: david.gough@ceres-pr.co.uk
E: lisa.woodman@ceres-pr.co.uk 

Editors notes

* The Potato Council, supporting the British potato industry, is funded by potato growers and potato trade purchasers and is part of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (www.ahdb.org.uk).

* Potato Council has pledged its support for the year-long International Year of the Potato (IYP) event. Launched at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, IYP will focus on the importance of the potato in providing food security and alleviating poverty.  Further information is available at http://www.britishpotatoes.co.uk/year-of-the-potato

* ‘Love Potatoes’ has been launched by Potato Council to encourage the British public to buy British potatoes this summer.  At a time when living costs are rising and health concerns remain high on the agenda, the message is clear; being full of nutrients, extremely versatile and superb value for money, potatoes are the perfect choice for consumers.

* Love Potatoes was kicked off by Nell McAndrew to encourage busy mums that there is no better time to Love Potatoes.  Potato Council is carrying out a nationwide tour, with the help of local growers and packers, it will be visiting a number of County shows, farmers markets and retail car parks to interact with children and families.

* For more information on the Love Potatoes campaign visit www.britishpotatoes.co.uk

* Iron is an essential part of haemoglobin, the red pigment in our blood that allows it to carry oxygen around the body.  Low iron stores can cause problems like excessive tiredness and lethargy. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, particularly after exertion, poor concentration, poor appetite muscle weakness and increased susceptibility to colds and infections.

* Potassium helps control blood pressure. Studies show that people who get plenty of potassium in their diet are less likely to suffer from high blood pressure and this will help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. One study found that men who ate the least amount of potassium were two and half times more likely to die from a stroke than those who had a high intake.

* A serving of potatoes contains just 116kcals but a host of nutrients including vitamins B1 and B6 and folate - compared with a portion of rice which contains 248kcals and a portion of pasta which contains 228kcals.

* A 175g portion of new potatoes contains 2.8 mg iron, while a portion of rice contains just 0.36 mg and a portion of pasta contains just 1.1mg

* A 175g portion of new potatoes contains 752.5mg potassium, while a portion of rice contains just 97.2 mg and a portion of pasta contains just 52.8mg

(i) The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) revealed that 40% of women aged 19-35 yrs had iron intakes below the Lower Recommended Nutritional Intake (LRNI), and 30% of women age 19-35 yrs had potassium intakes below the LRNI.  Meanwhile the Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey revealed that a high proportion of low income women in the 19-34 age group had iron (almost in 1 in 2) and potassium intakes (almost 1 in 3) below the LRNI.

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