Tablelands grower helps to avert potato shortage crisis

Amid a nationwide potato shortage, a Tablelands farmer is swimming in an abundance of the red variety to offer great deals on the spectacularly coloured produce. Find out more here.

While Australia faces a nationwide potato shortage, an Atherton Tablelands farmer has more spectacularly coloured red potatoes than he knows what to do with.

Tablelands farmer David Nix has two tonnes of red potatoes all packed in 10kg boxes, ready to be dispatched throughout the region.

Mr Nix has been in contact with Tablelands to Tabletops to help offload his produce to homes and restaurants.

The announcement comes after retailers imposed limits on frozen chip sales due to a nationwide potato shortage.

Extended wet periods during the growing season in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland had reduced the national potato yield by up to 50 per cent.

But on the Tablelands Mr Nix’s farm is bucking the trend.

The farmer said he had 3-4 tonnes of the red potatoes and has already given quite a lot away.

“The problem is that people never stray from what they’re used to. These taste amazing and anyone that tries them would love them, but they need to want to try them first,” he said.

Tablelands to Tabletops worker Matthew Nason holding one box of red potatoes.

Red potatoes grown locally in the Atherton Tablelands.

“If we persevered, the market would take them because they’re just beautiful.

“It’s all about changing attitudes.”

Tablelands to Tabletops chief executive officer Angela Nason hoped Far North households would learn to embrace the unfamiliar.

“They are different to the standard white that everyone is used to and people don’t know what to do with them,” she said.

“They are perfect for boiling and to make chips.

It’s hoped the red potato variety will catch on.

“David called us to see if we can help move them and of course we will try our best.”

Mr Nix said growing new varieties can be “frightening” when people aren’t willing to give them a try.

“Things like the red potatoes are getting costly to grow. We use double the amount of fertiliser on them and it’s just blowing us out of the water,” he said.

“Of course we can’t change the corporations, but people’s attitudes can change and that's what’s important.”

The red potatoes can be bought in a 10kg box for $25, 20kgs for $40, or 100kgs for $190.

Tablelands to Tabletops are also offering to deliver to houses or workplaces for the delivery fee of $7.50.

A purchase link has been provided for those who wish to buy.

Originally published as Tablelands grower helps to avert potato shortage crisis