<\/p>\n
Large-scale growers, processors, researchers, and consumers assessed potato varieties during the Alberta Potato Variety Trial Field Day at Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Research Farm in Canada.<\/p>\n
The trial included 16 French fry, 13 fresh-market, and 11 potato chip varieties from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada breeding program being evaluated for possible commercialization. A further 27 industry entries were displayed. Participants voted on varieties according to their suitability for different market segments.<\/p>\n
Breeding objectives vary depending on the intended end use. “Every type of potato has a different set of breeding objectives, and the breeder takes those into account,” said Dr. Michele Konschuh, an irrigated crop scientist with the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Lethbridge.<\/p>\n
For the fresh market, appearance and skin finish are among the selection criteria, while processors focus more on characteristics related to processing performance. For french fry production, tuber shape, specific gravity, and storage performance are considered.<\/p>\n
“The french fry industry is looking for things that are long and blocky and have high specific gravity that will store well,” said Konschuh.<\/p>\n
Potato chip processors have different specifications. “In the chips, we’re looking for potatoes between golf-ball and tennis-ball size. The rounder, the better. They don’t like flat potatoes. We get that kind of feedback to that effect all the time.”<\/p>\n
The Advanced Post-Harvest Technology Centre at Lethbridge Polytechnic conducts applied research into post-harvest handling, storage, and value addition for grains and produce, including potatoes. More than 200 potato varieties are currently available in Alberta.<\/p>\n
According to Lethbridge Polytechnic, its applied research is directed by requirements identified by growers and processors. “We don’t do anything that producers don’t ask us to do,” said Dr. Andrew Dunlop, associate vice-president of research at Lethbridge Polytechnic.<\/p>\n
“Quick turnaround is one of the things that we always aim for. What you see in the field trials, we want, and hope, is in a field before very long.”<\/p>\n
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