Locally grown potatoes often ‘too large’

Press, 19 February 1983, Page 6

Locally grown potatoes often ‘too large’

Christchurch consumers are getting more than a mouthful when they buy locally graded potatoes, according to the president of the Christchurch Fruit and Vegetable Retailer's Association, Mr lan Buchanan. Mr Buchanan said too many large potatoes were being sold at retail outlets.

"Nobody wants a table potato which has to be cut into four pieces," he said yesterday. Chip-makers provided a market for large potatoes and they should not be foisted on to retail buyers, said Mr Buchanan.

"I feel guilty as a retailer when I sell the large ones, and I sort them out myself." Mr Buchanan said. The condition of local potatoes was not a problem as it Lad proved to be in the North Island.

"If a poor-quality potato is bought by a consumer down here, it 'is likely that they paid a low price for it, and so that cannot expect top quality," Mr Buchanan said.

Recent reports in "Consumer" magazine criticised samples of potatoes bought in Wellington. Dry rot. black spot, greening, and potato moth were found to be widespread. Small potatoes were also common and were wrongly represented as being new.

Both Mr Buchanan and the Canterbury Growers’ Society secretary, Mr G. D.- Bourke, said local produce was in good condition. Mr Bourke said the price of a potato determined its quality and size.

“You get what you pay for, if they are a $3 bag you cannot possible expect the same standard as a $6 bag." Mr Bourke said most growers sized their potatoes and sent the larger ones to commercial outlets. However. poorer-quality potatoes were not sorted thoroughly.

The Potato’ Board said from Wellington last evening that it was in a “hopeless situation” about potato quality.

Its secretary. Mr Neil McHugh, said the board had

been "making noises" to the Government for months seeking at least some way of identifying a grower's produce when packaged. That was the only way the board could follow up complaints on produce quality.

The chairman of the Potato Growers’ Federation. Mr Tony Strang, also said the Government was frustrating the industry's attempts to improve quality. The Minister of Agriculture. Mr Maclntyre, told the Press Association that the issue was a matter of policy for the Potato Board. The Government caucus had already decided not to introduce regulations setting quality controls. If Government officials again brought the matter to the attention of caucus, the policy might be reviewed. But Mr Maclntyre said, "I cannot see the caucus bringing down a regulation saying what a (quality) potato is.” That was up to’the board, he said.

“Consumer? report, page 7