Tasmania's fresh potato growers are building mainstream markets for unusual potatoes, all the way to Dubai.
Growers Terrence and Wendy Rattray have pioneered special varieties in all sorts of shapes and shades at Pyengana in Tasmania's north east.
On the vast grading and packing floor of what was once the Tascot carpet factory in Devonport, the Rattrays have hit a purple patch.
"They're certainly quite dark, almost basalt on the outside," Mr Rattray said.
"We're hoping science will come up with some news that they're fantastic for curing everything.
"The flesh is purple with the Purple Bliss [variety].
"We've always grown a Purple Congo but the Purple Bliss is far superior in flavour and texture and doesn't have a deep eye like the Purple Congo.
"We've now found that every man and his dog wants to grow Dutch Cream and Kipfler [varieties].
"So we've bought in new varieties of Purple Bliss, Harlequin, which we think is probably the world's greatest roast potato, and Peruvian Gold, which is the highest starch potato I've found so far.
"And the Red Foo which is a red fingerling inside and out."
Grading Purple Bliss
Mr Rattray said his business was now 36 hours closer to mainland and export markets with its new Devonport grading and packing factory.
He said it allowed for really good traction with a major Australian supermarket chain and throughout July they were selling in every state.
Mr Rattray said the company was also exporting to Korea, Hong Kong and occasionally to Dubai.
