Here at PotatoPro, we are always on the lookout for new developments and in particular new potatoes. Especially if they are somewhat different from what we are used to. The variety Dark Red Chieftain, fits that profile and that's why were pleased to hear of the Clyde River Blog paying attention to this variety.
Here is the story:
When I visited Don Northcott on Thanksgiving Weekend, he gave me a few samples of a potato called Dark Red Chieftain that his company Real Potatoes is marketing internationally.
It was a beautiful colour, so I looked forward to serving it as part of my Thanksgiving Dinner. When I sliced it, it looked like an apple with its brilliant red skin and a dense, bright white flesh that did not have the typical hint of transparency found in other potato varieties. The contrast was beautiful, and I knew it would present well.
The red of the Dark Red Chieftain potato variety compares to the red colour of an apple or plum
I steamed them skin on, and their flavour and texture made it a winner with my guests. I followed up with Don to find out more about the potato, and what I discovered was a business with a taste for innovation.
The Dark Red Chieftain is a new potato variety and Real Potatoes holds its development rights. The Dark Red Chieftain has a deep, red-coloured skin that does not fade in warm temperatures, long storage conditions or even after cooking. The flesh colour is bright white, so contrasted with its skin colour, the potato offers a stunning presentation either boiled or roasted.
The Dark Red Chieftain has a medium specific gravity (good ratio between its flesh density and its water density), so it satisfies consumers looking for a drier product, but it also appeals to those preferring a moist potato. The flavour is good and the texture is creamy/smooth, without the grittiness associated with other varieties.
Potato producers in Prince Edward Island were the first to recognize the potential this variety offered for increasing sales of their seed clients, so commercial volumes of seed potatoes were produced here first. International clients in Uruguay will take the first containers of the DRC this Fall, and growers in Canada and the US will try the DRC for the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall crops of 2011 and 2012.
Experimental plots located in Florida, California, Washington, Wisconsin, Ontario, Quebec, PEI, New Brunswick, Idaho and Uruguay for the past three seasons have had positive results. Already, demand for this seed is beyond Don’s initial expectations.
Red potato varieties are popular in North America, specifically in the Northeastern markets, and, generally, they command high prices.
Dark Red Chieftain, steamed skin on
This Dark Red Chieftain potato has a unique characteristic. Its flesh will not turn from white to green when exposed to light. The typical greening that can happen in potatoes also affects the taste, making the typical potato bitter and not suitable for sale.
The Dark Red Chieftain was part of a study conducted at the University of Laval where it was exposed along with other varieties to light over a two-week period. Other common varieties turned green three times faster than the DRC. In fact, the DRC potato showed minimal changes, and it did not develop bitter components or green coloration. The result is great news for potato sellers and consumers.
Real Potatoes has identified market opportunities in North America and in other areas of the world where consumers have a preference for red-skinned potatoes. They will be working in collaboration with growers where opportunities arise.
Their business objective is to continue to expand their offering of seed potato varieties in Prince Edward Island that also grow well in South America or Southern California. Proving robustness in these diverse climates means they can be grown in more areas of the world and that leads to higher sales of seed potatoes, which is Real Potatoes’ core business.
New types of potatoes being developed present better disease resistance, but the most important driver in the industry is changing consumer behaviour. Consumer preferences for fresh potatoes in North America are changing, as lifestyles are changing. Consumers are now looking for smaller, more appealing packaging with a clean, bright interesting product.
If any farmer reading this article would like to know more about growing this potato variety, Don Northcott welcomes you to contact him to learn more about the Dark Red Chieftain along with other variety development projects and seed production opportunities.
Don Northcott says, “Producers can expect higher returns with new varieties;however, as the varieties change and consumer demand for potatoes evolves, producers must also transform their production practices to stay relevant and part of an industry in transformation.”
As for us consumers, we may have to wait awhile to find this beautiful potato on supermarket shelves, but since we have the inside scoop, our readers may just be the first to know.
