Australia: Purple Bliss potato could become family favourite

The new ‘purple bliss’ potato could become a family favourite now that it has begun producing commercial quantities, and 20 tonnes are making their way to supermarket shelves. The new variety first arrived as 1cm high tissue culture plantlets from Idaho, four years ago. The potato is firm to the bite, and evenly coloured, deep purple throughout the skin and flesh, according to the grower.

Kids enjoying potato again is clearly the hope of Tasmanian company Anchor Organics, which grows the purple potato seedlings (not certified organic) under the brand Yum Tasmanian Potatoes. “Potatoes need to become a staple food again. We’ve got a whole generation of people now that have been eating mostly South Australia grown, dry potatoes,” says Terrence Rattray, of Anchor Organics. “They’re literally grown hydroponic but without constant water. That gives the best looking potatoes, but they can’t compete on taste.”

While there has been some interest from the restaurant market, varieties such as purple bliss are suitable for cooking at home. “A lot of customers will mash up two different types of potatoes, say some dutch cream and a small amount of purple bliss, and swirl the two together to make a really attractive mash,” says Mr Rattray.

Shoppers will often bypass the more spotted, imperfect skin finish of Tasmanian grown potatoes, but Mr Rattray says that look is exactly what gives all his potatoes, which include other coloured varieties such as Red Foo and Harlequinn, their superior taste and nutritional content. “People still want to have perfect looking potatoes, but they just don’t taste like they should,” he adds. “A lot of macro and micro nutrients in the potato come from bacteria and fungi present in the soil where they are grown. A good healthy soil is truly alive.”

It isn’t yet known whether purple bliss has similar nutritional content to other ‘purple’ vegetables such as carrots, research studies are ongoing to determine whether they have additional nutritional content, according to Mr Rattray. In any case he says the day when customers can create a 'rainbow' potato salad, is nearly here.

Purple bliss potatoes are available in Coles supermarkets, and other Yum Tasmanian potatoes, including the traditional English favourite the "King Edward" can also be found there this month.