Potato is the star of the show at annual event for growers in Huntingdonshire
Carol Matthews at Cambridgeshire Self Sufficiency Group Potato Day, in Huntingdon. - Credit: Archant
Hundreds of people attended a spud-tacular event in Huntingdon to celebrate the humble potato.
Lucy Ankin, 12, at Cambridgeshire Self Sufficiency Group Potato Day, in Huntingdon. - Credit: Archant
Organised by the Cambridgeshire Self Sufficiency Group, the event, which is now in its eighth year, took place at the Huntingdon Methodist Church Hall, on Saturday, with visitors able to get their hands on a bag or two of spuds.
Chairman of the group, Mick Matthews told The Hunts Post: “We were happy with the day, we had about 700 people come through the doors, and we had people come from as far afield as Nottingham to attend which was great to see.
“We use the event as a way to promote the group and encourage people to be more self-sufficient at any level.”
Paul Bellamy and Keith Durrant at Cambridgeshire Self Sufficiency Group Potato Day, in Huntingdon. - Credit: Archant
There were 50 varieties of potatoes on sale, but this year the group saw a record sell-out of Charlotte potatoes, despite having 100kgs worth ready for the eager crowds.
“We opened at 11am and by 11.25am we had sold out of the Charlotte potatoes, people like these because they are a good salad potato and stay well in the ground,” added Mr Matthews.
Another popular variety was the Casablanca which were snapped up by the organiser of a school challenge, who will use the seed potatoes as part of a competition based around the vegetable with schools in St Ives.
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Growers with a number of interests - including gardeners, smallholders and allotment holders - were able to seed swap with the opportunity to exchange unwanted seeds.
Cambridgeshire Self Sufficiency Group Potato Day, in Huntingdon. - Credit: Archant
There was also the chance to buy seed potatoes that have been grown across the continent.
“We wouldn’t be able to grow certain types of the potatoes we had on display locally so some of them come from Scotland and a few more rare varieties come from France,” Mr Matthews said.
There were also onions and shallots on sale for growers to take home.
INFORMATION: For more details about becoming a member of Cambridgeshire Self Sufficiency Group, call Mick Matthews on 01487 710641 or e-mail cambs.selfsufficiencygroup@gmail.com.
