Europa: Heritage and specialty potato varieties taking Ireland by storm
From humble beginnings just a few years back, the heritage and specialty potatoes grown by Maria Flynn at Ballymakenny Farm are today some of the most sought-after potatoes by high-end chefs and restaurateurs in the Irish culinary industry.
Originally, Maria Flynn’s wanted to create a ‘happy place’ to escape to on the farm while the operation experienced trying times a couple of years ago. “It was as if everything was going in the direction of a downward spiral,” Maria says. “I had to create some kind of ‘feel good’ corner on the farm where I could go…” Her “go-to place” became the heritage potato patch that is now delivering these exquisite potato range which is becoming very famous in all of Ireland.
A passion for coloured varieties
Talking with passion about the various coloured varieties that are produced on Ballymakenny Farm, Maria told The Taste, an Irish culinary website: “Our flagship product, Violetta, will always hold a special place in my heart. It is a lovely, colourful, great tasting potato. The seed is sourced from Skea Potatoes in Scotland. The colour is in the seed and is produced by a naturally occurring anthocyanin, the same one that naturally occurs in beetroot. And because of the natural purple of the Violetta, it is high in antioxidants.”
As the business grew, Maria added new products to her colourful range, with Red Emmalie Potato, Pink Fir Apple Potato, Yukon Gold, micro baby potatoes and salad potatoes all on offer. Maria also grows Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Kakettes, Long Stem Broccoli and Sweet Stem Cauliflower.
Potatonewstoday.com reports how Maria also won two prestigious awards in 2018 because of her outstanding efforts: The W&A Women and Agriculture Award 2018 and the Eurotoques Award.
Fuente: https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9085782/heritage-and-specialty-potato-varieties-taking-ireland-by-storm/
