According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the UN General Assembly, the focus today will be on the diverse nutritional, economic, environmental, and cultural significance of the potato, highlighting its role as a vital food source and a means of income for rural families and producers.
Highly nutritious
Potatoes are recognised for their nutritional value as a rich source of carbohydrates, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fibre. They are regarded as one of the most important staple foods worldwide and are used fresh and processed in numerous ways: boiled, mashed, fried, as crisps, and made into starch, powders, and flakes.
South Africa is part of the 159 potato-growing countries that will hold events under this year’s theme, ‘Shaping History, Feeding the Future’.
There are 492 commercial South African potato farmers and 50 development projects that produce potatoes year-round across all nine provinces. In 2024, 76% of South Africa’s total crop production was distributed as fresh potatoes, with processing and exporting accounting for 16% and 5%, respectively.
Potato in the informal sector
Potatoes SA will be at the Joburg Market today with activations designed to celebrate potatoes and the role they play in the informal sector as a food for all.
Dirk Uys, research and innovation manager at Potatoes SA, said they will be celebrating with various partners, including GWK, Prokon, the Agricultural Produce Agents Council, market agents, Freddy Hirsch, and members of the media.
“Potatoes SA is collaborating with various industry stakeholders and several potato seed suppliers to highlight various cultivars, demonstrate the numerous advantages of potatoes, and present optimal methods for enjoying them. We are doing this to meet those who support potatoes and will be supporting them with information about potatoes and enablers to promote their small businesses.
“What better way to do this than by going to the largest fresh produce markets? It is via these markets that potatoes get to our people, whether they’re in Katlehong or Khayelitsha. We look forward to celebrating potatoes and our traders, who are the lifeblood of the fresh produce economy,” Uys said.
Potatoes in SA: quick facts
- 2,5 million tons produced annually
- 51 572ha planted annually
- 71 000 truck (link) loads per season
- 86% under irrigation
- 48,5t/ha yield
- 37kg per capita consumption
- Over 60 000 direct jobs
