Local consumers were given an opportunity on Wednesday to participate in a sensory evaluation (taste tasting) activity to present their feedback on locally grown Irish Potatoes.
The activity was organized by the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, consumers and buyers to improve on the quality and quantity of Irish Potatoes.
Some of the dishes on the menu included fried potatoes, baked potatoes, boiled potatoes, stuffed potatoes, scalloped potatoes and potato salad.
She said there has been negative feedback from consumers concerning local Irish Potatoes with some saying they are either too small, too hard or not uniform enough.
She stated that all this is part of PROPEL’s effort to promote the export of fresh produce into high value markets, which she pointed out is defined by the supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, cruise lines and off course exports.”
Dr. Anselm said it has been recognized that in terms of imports substitution there is a competitive advantage in terms of Irish potato production.
“So we are trying to reduce the importation of over $1-million worth of Irish potatoes by introducing new cultivars,” she explained.
She noted that the cultivars are planing Irish Potatoes on a demonstrative basis before they can be introduced to the local market.
Meantime she revealed that PROPEL also have interest in vegetable production especially some of the ‘elite types’ that are imported into Dominica.
“So we are hoping that in the near future we can work with some of the buyers and some producers, some farmers and we can actually produce for the buyers the quality and quantity that they desire,” she explained.
The event was held below the Government Headquarters in Roseau.
PROPEL is being implemented by an organization called CHF Caribbean funded by the government of Canada.
That project is also being implemented in eight countries; including Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, St Vincent, Dominica and Grenada.
Do any one knows if the Europeans, Canadians, and Americans eat Dasshin , if they don’t ? Why should we spend our money eating irish potatoes.
Your question is not a smart one. What is your problem?
We have been eating imported Irish potatoes from years gone by.
Flour and rice were also imported. We were happy to eat them with no questions and criticisms.
Also mashed potatoes with butter or margarine and some milk. This could be tasty. Minced parsley or simply plain parsley could be sprinkled on it. Also paprika for those who love it.
Well, maybe someday if all goes well.
The mashed potatoes could also be baked. There are some other ways it could be prepared. You can Google them, if you have not yet done so.
Would have loved to be part of the tasting group.
There are specifically smaller ones. There are also yellow and purple-skinned ones. I love the white and yellow ones.
Whenever I purchase a bag of potatoes, they are different sizes; not the tiny ones. The latter are different.
I recognize these Irish potatoes are new experiments. In time, the growing and harvesting of same will be different.
Good luck to growing some more for sale in D/ca and imports to other parts of the world.
its like after eating the American chicken for five years,you just can,t eat the yard foul any more.lets think healthy Dominicans.
All over the world where Black peoples Ancesters were Slaves they argue with other Blacks saying they are free to buy any thing they want with their money from any body. No other Race does that. Self hate will keep us poor forever. ? Why do we think its freedom to give our money to other people who don’t need it.In Dominica how much our money leaves us and go to some one else. When are we going to keep our money in our race like the Ford’s for four generations? Why do we hate our selves so much after400 yrs when are we going to love our selves and stop giving other people our money. We are sick mentally we all need help really bad.
My concern is the potatoes were harvested a “couple” of weeks ago and may still require an extended curing period. This is so critical to get the moisture content down to improve on dry matter content which influences taste. A good initiative but this could effect the perception of the quality of locally grown potatoes and hence the consumer attitude towards its consumption. … like DA potatoes hard etc etc etc. But it can be seen even from the pics that the potatoes look excellent and with proper curing would be the first choice for consumption when compared to the imported stuff which has been sitting in a warehouse for more than 6 months.
New potatoes (freshly harvested potatoes) can be consumed without any risk to the consumer. People must be willing to try new things to be able to experience the world in a different way.
I never implied there was a risk (health or otherwise) to the consumer. I was simply mentioning a post harvest practice which influences the product quality… i.e less water more dry matter and hence improved organoleptic properties. For that reason if the locally grown potatoes are properly cured, which i’m not implying that they are, then the consumer would potentially be more inclined and receptive towards them… and throw away that talk about local potatoes too hard.. just an observation
Interesting argument User Name but I have never experienced in increase in the organoleptic properties flavour, colour or texture of potatoes by dehydrating them. On the contrary! Anyway, why would you want to desiccate a vegetable when you can eat it fresh?
Excellent effort Dr. Nadia Pacquette-Anselm.
Please compare your results with locally grown potatoes (especially Deseree variiety ) that have been stored under refrigeration for over a year. I predict that you will see a significant difference in perception of taste attributes by consumers and participants especially on a Hedonic scale test.
Just an idea. Keep up the great work.
@ Doctor Nadia Pacquette Anselm: Madam, I must respectfully tell you that i I think alot of the complaints about the local potatoes has to do with the farmers themselves.
Farmers simply don’t leave the potatoes in the ground long enough. By the time the potatoes start to develop and grow, they harvest them out of the ground.
This is where the Bureau of Standards need to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to put some sort of size standardization in place so that farmers don’t bring their teeny tiny potatoes for the supermarkets and then we’re forced to buy them.
After all, is not just for soup consumers use potatoes you know.
To reply to your concern, I was the Extension Officer who coordinated local irish potato in Giraudel/Egleston,Bellevue Chopin and the likes and none of the farmers removed the potatoes until after the foliage had dried. The quality of Irish Potatoes back then were superb. Any farmer in his right mind would know that harvesting the crop before it is ready not only hurts the market but himself too.
Here we go again British education to serve the masters, we are pushing irish potatoes and not Dashin- or root crops. Our kids loves apples and grapes not mangoes, we talk about freedom to eat and buy what we want from the Cubans in Miami and we fight each other not to buy from each other. They told us coconut oil is bad for the Heart, they introduced corn oil and get us hooked, later they come back and tell us coconut oil is better than corn oil. Sooner or later all Dominicans are going to hate Dasshen- and love potatoes. Do we have labs at the university of the westindes to test anything. When are we going to get educated and think.
Mr. Farmer, you best of all should understand the concept of diversification. White potato is a short crop that can bring good returns to the farmers. White potatoes are always available whether we grow them or import them. People ALWAYS have a choice what to buy and what to feed their families. Please educate yourself on the other programmes that are ongoing in the agricultural sector.
For someone, who claims to be a farmer you are awfully misinformed. My friend, the potato is indigenous to the Americas, particularly S.America and not Europe. The word potato itself is Caribbean in origin, the Taino people (I believe they are the same as the Arawaks) used the word batata to describe this wonderful food. Nothing to do with the British it is orignally our food. Think indeed!
Very good initiative and hearts off to Mrs. Nadia Pacquette-Anselm! The potatoes were tasty thanks
Do you mean “hats” off? We take off hats. We could change our “hearts”, for better or for good.
There you have it. Irish potatoes grown in Dominica being promoted by the govt. of Canada, with seed potatoes probably coming from Holland. Good international cooperation but may I respectfully suggest that if we want to promote Dominican produce we should call them “Dominica Potatoes” from now on,. They are grown here, after all. Good luck with the project, love it.
They cannot be called Dominica Potatoes because the seeds/roots did not originate from Dominica. It could be said, “Grown in Dominica.” This would be acceptable.