The United Nations has declared 2008 International Year of the Potato in recognition of the tuber's 5,000 years on the planet and the fact that it grows in poor soil and can keep many hungry people alive. The carbohydrates provide fuel for the body, and potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium and several antioxidants.
You're unlikely to find any of Banks's vegetables at the Price Chopper in nearby Tottenham or any other store in Ontario for that matter. These are all novel potato breeds that are still being evaluated by breeders and growers. Some have numbers not names.
Over at McKay &Hughes, a Toronto-based company that specializes in the marketing, packaging and growing of potatoes, president and owner Tom Hughes confirms that the specialty market is booming.
People want novelty spuds, particularly fingerlings, mini potatoes and the absolute latest – red-skinned, yellow-fleshed potatoes – but Ontario farmers can't provide those year-round because the growing season is too short and potatoes can only be stored for about six months before they sprout.
