Potatoes. Marko Paakkanen / Pixabay.com / 2017 / CC0 1.0
The first Friday of October is Potato Day in Ireland.
Potatoes are still one of Ireland’s favourite foods, and the Irish remain amongst the world’s champion potato eaters.
The Irish love their potatoes mashed, boiled, and fried up as chips, but on this day, the Irish Potato Federation and other organizations are encouraging people to add a little variety to their thinking about potatoes, and try recipes from other cuisines that use spuds in different ways, such as Lebanese spiced potatoes, Indian potato and onion pakoras, or latkes.
Another goal of the day is the encourage young people to think about potatoes as being a base for easy, quick, nutritious meals, as opposed to meals based on empty, ultra-processed convenience foods.
Activities today include:
- charity runs;
- free tastings;
- farm visits;
- promotional recipes for potatoes;
- educational outreach to students.
#MadAboutSpuds #NationalPotatoDayIreland
Activities for today
- Make a new recipe with potatoes and share a photo of it on social media;
- try a different type of potato — a purple potato, or a variety you’ve never had before;
- try a potato recipe from a different cuisine that you’ve never made before.
See also: Potatoes, Champ, Irish Food, Irish Cobbler Potatoes, Irish Peace Potatoes, Irish Queen Potatoes
Recipes
Further reading
History
Potato Day in Ireland was initiated by the Irish Food Board (Bord Bia) in collaboration with the Irish Potato Federation and the Irish Farmers Association. The first year for it was 2010. [1] “The day of celebration is a Bord Bia initiative… Now in its third year, Bord Bia runs the day in conjunction with the Irish Potato Federation and the Irish Farmers Association. O’Connell, Hugh. Happy National Potato Day! Here are 7 interesting facts about the humble spud. Dublin, Ireland: The Journal. 23 August 2013. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.thejournal.ie/national-potato-day-bord-bia-1048620-Aug2013/
In 2017, the theme for the day, “Potatoes: What’s Under the Skin” emphasized the health benefits of a potato. [2]Pope, Conor. Happy Potato Day! We’ve dug up 17 facts about Ireland’s favourite veg. Dublin, Ireland: The Irish Times. 6 October 2017. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/happy-potato-day-we-ve-dug-up-17-facts-about-ireland-s-favourite-veg-1.3247131
Sources
Beresford, Jack. It’s National Potato Day in Ireland. Smithfield, London: The Irish Post. 2 October 2020. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.irishpost.com/news/its-national-potato-day-in-ireland-194268
Celebrate Ireland’s National Potato Day with this Halloween colcannon recipe. New York, New York: Irish Central. 4 October 2019. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/food-drink/irelands-national-potato-day-halloween-colcannon-recipe
Claffey, Niall. National Potato Day: Consumers urged to choose Irish potatoes. Dublin, Ireland: Agriland. 6 October 2017. Accessed September 2017 at https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/national-potato-day-consumers-urged-to-choose-irish-potatoes/
Irish Food Board (Bord Bia). National Potato Day. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.bordbia.ie/national-potato-day/
Kennedy, Janine. National potato day – quick and easy potato latkes. Dublin, Ireland: The Irish Farmers Journal. 29 September 2020. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.farmersjournal.ie/national-potato-week-quick-and-easy-potato-latkes-573974
Pope, Conor. Happy Potato Day! We’ve dug up 17 facts about Ireland’s favourite veg. Dublin, Ireland: The Irish Times. 6 October 2017. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/happy-potato-day-we-ve-dug-up-17-facts-about-ireland-s-favourite-veg-1.3247131
Potato Power! Irish potato sales up 24% ahead of National Potato Day. Longford, Ireland: The Longford Leader. 2 October 2020. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/what-s-on/577975/potato-power-irish-potato-sales-up-24-ahead-of-national-potato-day.html\
Walsh, Orland. Dietitian reveals how potatoes can be healthiest choice as Bord Bia celebrate National Potato Day. Dublin, Ireland: The Irish Sun. 2 October 2020. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.thesun.ie/fabulous/5971060/dietitian-reveals-how-potatoes-can-be-healthiest-choice-as-bord-bia-celebrate-national-potato-day/
References
| ↑1 | “The day of celebration is a Bord Bia initiative… Now in its third year, Bord Bia runs the day in conjunction with the Irish Potato Federation and the Irish Farmers Association. O’Connell, Hugh. Happy National Potato Day! Here are 7 interesting facts about the humble spud. Dublin, Ireland: The Journal. 23 August 2013. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.thejournal.ie/national-potato-day-bord-bia-1048620-Aug2013/ |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Pope, Conor. Happy Potato Day! We’ve dug up 17 facts about Ireland’s favourite veg. Dublin, Ireland: The Irish Times. 6 October 2017. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/happy-potato-day-we-ve-dug-up-17-facts-about-ireland-s-favourite-veg-1.3247131 |