Trial Of “Instant” Mashed Potatoes

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30145, 31 May 1963, Page 10

Trial Of “Instant” Mashed Potatoes

Initial marketing trials for the retail and catering packs of “instant” mashed potatoes would he made in the Canterbury area, the chairman of directors of the Waitaki Farmers’ Freezing Company, Ltd. (Mr R. J. Gibson) said when the opening function of New Zealand’s first dehydrated potato plant was held at Pukeuri, seven miles north of Oamaru, yesterday.

Production officially began yesterday, but for this season only a limited amount will be put on the market This is because the industry is still in its “teething” stage, and to allow the possible local markets to be fully explored If the demand warrants it, production will be increased accordingly However, main hopes for the new product lie in the development of fresh overseas markets

contracted for a certain amount of the potato crop, but should the demand for the product exceed the contract, more potatoes would undoubtedly be brought in. said the works manager (Mr E. J. Neilsen) When operating to capacity, the machine is capable of producing two tons of dehydrated potato flakes from 13 to 15 tons of raw potatoes in eight hours, handling 3000.1 b of potatoes an hour. Mr Neilsen said it was much more economical to keep the machine operating continuously. It took about 35 minutes for the whole process to take place, from the time the potatoes were dumped by hand into a soaking tank, washed under pressure, inspected, the skins softened in a caustic soda solution and mechanically peeled, sliced, cooked mashed, dried in a huge drum roller and flaked ready to pack The dried flake comes from the machine in long news-print-like sheets. 002 to 005 inches thick Dr. L. Corkill, director of the Crop Research Division of the D.5.1.R., said one-third of the world’s population was under-nourished. He did not think instant mashed potatoes were going to feed these people, but believed that animal products could be combined with it to produce a high quality high protein food.

Installed at the company's freezing works in a specially built building the plant cost £lOO.OOO and the trials have been carried out under the guidance of the inventor of the process. Dr E A. M. Assel bergs, at present employed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Rome

Some minor difficulties were still being experienced at the opening, which was brought forward because of Dr Asselbergs’ departure at the end of this week

This process was patented in Canada in 1961 and several factories are now producing it there.

Because the plant will not be put into full production this year, and also because it is believed there is a relatively limited local market, it is not anticipated that a great deal will be done at present to alleviate the problem of a potato surplus in South Canterbury This year the company had