Spud day is s-mash hit (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Spud day is s-mash hit

5:00pm Sunday 7th February 2010 in

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POTATO-heads were out in force for an annual festival celebrating spud-power.

More than 2,000 people are thought to have converged for the 12th Hampshire Potato Day, held at Testbourne Community Centre, in Micheldever Road on Saturday and Sunday.

This year’s festival saw a spectacular range of taters, with 140 varieties of all shapes, sizes and colours on offer – 20 more than last year.

The bumper selection included the Vitellotte Noir, a blue potato prized by the French because it makes scrumptious mash.

Another treat from across the Channel was the Blue Danube, a stunning purple skin with bright white flesh said to be superb for chips, mash or roast.

Then there was the red spud Vanessa from the Netherlands where it is favoured for baking.

And from Germany came the increasingly familiar Pink Fur Apple variety used in salads.

Cooking demonstrations and plant and seed stalls also kept the crowds intrigued.

Organiser Phil Cooper said the turnout was the best ever.

He said: “I think this is because more people are interested in organic food as they become aware of additives.

“And more people are growing their own food which is shown by a huge growth of interest in allotments.”

Hampshire Organic Gardening Group were offering seeds of rare varieties that are no longer commercially grown.

Spud fan Penny Horner, of Micheldever Road, said: “This is such a great show because it gives a good opportunity to look at the amazing variety of potatoes.

“You just don’t see this many types in the supermarkets.”

The event is put together by Hampshire Organic Gardening Group and the Friends of Whitchurch Primary School and Testbourne Community School.