INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE POTATO 2008
2008 WAS THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL OF THE POTATO
Links for this promotion
Celebrating Potatoes
Oakleys Premium Fresh Vegetables commit to the International Year of the Potato
Robin Oakley is a 5th generation potato grower. He has been involved in the production of potatoes since he was a small child. Oakleys proudly supported the International Year of the Potato.
The UN declared 2008 the International Year of the Potato. If you are wondering why, it is to raise awareness of the importance of the potato in addressing issues of global concern, including hunger.
OAKLEYS PREMIUM FRESH VEGETABLES is working with Glelenda Gourlay and the International Year Of The Potato (IYP) Committee, to help support promotions NZ wide. This is an ongoing promotion with the Hort NZ and Potatoes NZ to promote and maintain market share of the humble NZ SPUD!!!!!!
During the promotional year oakleys undertook many promotions with the IYP. We supplied the Canterbury Polytech with product to allow the cooking tests for potato varieties. And hosted a tour of Pack and Save and New World Vegetable Department Managers to our farm site to educate them on , the varities , how they grow , and how we produce and pack these potatoes. Robin Oakley was on the 'What Now' childrens Sunday TV Show' to show children how to grow potaotes in a bucket , with Glenda Gouley cooking potatoes many different ways , and Robin helped in the process in the background.
Christchurch Botanic Day Harvest
Graeme Oakley spoke at the Christchurch Botanic Day Harvest and fun day in March to raise awareness of the potato, and launch of Alison Holsts new book on potatoes. Crop & Food Research planted and harvested potato gardens in the Botanic Gardens in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. Christchurch Botanic Gardens had a fantastic harvest event when a huge crowd turned up to see Simon and Alison Holst cooking recipes form their new cookbook ' Popular Potatoes', to learn more about the science of the potato. Stickers and sack races for the children added to the fun event for the Canterbury potato-lovers. In Christchurch a display at the Botanic Gardens featured 16 different cultivars, most bred by Crop & Food Research breeders. Crop & Food Research is unique in the world in the diversity of its involvement with potatoes. Its scientists are deciphering the DNA code of potatoes, developing improved crop management systems, breeding potatoes with elite characteristics, supporting production of Taewa or Maori potatoes, gaining a better understanding of the nutritional benefits of potatoes .
The NZ Potato Product Group
The Potato Product Group of Horticulture New Zealand represents the interests of New Zealand's seed, table, and process potato growers. The potato industry is made up of around 290 growers ( one of which is Oakleys Premium Fresh Vegetables), and all the NZ grower's produce an estimated 500,000 tonnes of potatoes from 10,500 hectares in 2006. Robin Oakley is a Director on the board for Potaotes NZ.
See the International Year Of the Potato web site www.potato2008.org
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