Filenews 6 August 2022 - by Angelos Nicolaou
The Cypriot potato, the second most exported product of Cyprus after halloumi, will get the protection it deserves through the actions that are in progress to submit an application for registration of a geographical indication.
In this way, the unfair practices devised by various traders, who baptize potatoes that they own as Cypriot ones, will be addressed in order to sell them more expensively. In the hands of the Ministry of Agriculture is a complete application for the protection of the Cypriot reddish potato, which is easily distinguished by its reddish color acquired by the fertile red soil where it is mainly cultivated. The application was submitted by the Cyprus Potato Marketing Council as a packer / exporter, as a service provider to producers and potato producers from various areas of Kokkinochoria. Specifically, the team consists of Andreas Karyos from Avgorou, Marina Avraam Eleftheriou from Sotira, Panagiotis Michailas from Avgorou, Georgios Zorlis from Vrysoules and Menelaos Koumbousis from Orounta.
The name "Cyprus red soil potato" refers to fresh potatoes, i.e. the underground edible tubers of the Solanum tuberosum plant, regardless of variety, which are characterized by their slightly reddish colour, the result of the remnants of red soil on the outer peel, an element that is acquired as a result of their cultivation in reddish soils of Cyprus.
The tubers of the "Cypriot potato reddish" have the shape of the variety from which they come, round or cylindrical, intact without shoots, greening, slits or bumps and without bruises or spots externally and internally.
The colour of the flesh is from dark (yellowish-fleshed) to light yellow (white flesh) depending on the variety, while the surface of the peel is slightly distinguishable by a reddish-brown powder and / or adhering mud of brownish-red colour.All stages of cultivation, that is, from planting to harvesting, must be carried out within the demarcated area.
The packaging and consequently the marketing of the "Cypriot red potato" is limited to potatoes that have not been washed during the post-harvest management and packaging stage.
The demarcated geographical area consists of cultivation plots whose soil is characterized and recognized (by the Competent Authority or an authorized natural or legal person) as a reddish person and are located within the administrative boundaries of the communities:
Famagusta District: Achna, Liopetri, Avgorou, Sotira, Frenaros, Deryneia, Paralimni, Ayia Napa.
Larnaca District: Xylotympou, Xylofagou, Ormidia, Kiti, Pervolia, Meneou, Pyla.
Nicosia District: Evrychou, Linos, Flassos, Koutrafas, Nikitari, Vyzakia, Potami, Astromeritis, Peristerona, Orounta, Akaki, Menoiko, Kokkinotrimithia, Paliometocho, Agioi Trimithias, Agia Varvara.
Paphos District: Kouklia, Mandria, Timi, Anarita, Achelia, Geroskipou, Emba, Kissonerga, Argaka, Makounta, Polis Chrysochous, Chrysochous, Peyia.
The application for registration of the name "Cyprus red potato" is based on the reputation it has acquired through decades, from the beginning of the last century until today, and which has been associated with its cultivation in the red soil that characterizes the soils in several places (demarcated area) of Cyprus. The demarcated area extends to cultivation plots located in different areas of Cyprus with identical soil characteristics and that is why the reputation has been associated with the whole island and not with its specific area.
The communities located in the demarcated geographical area are characterized by a high concentration of red soils or border with communities with large areas of red soils, thus shaping the areas of Cyprus where potato cultivation has developed into red soils. These are soils that receive a defined characterization and which when wet become plastic and sticky, when they do not dry they become quite hard and cohesive, an element that forms the brown-red colour from soil residues in the tubers of the "Cypriot potato reddish".
Historical references to the peculiarity of red soils in the cultivation of the "Cypriot red potato" date back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Already, from the first years of the twentieth century, that is, the beginnings of the commercial cultivation of potatoes in Cyprus, several documents emphasize the suitability of red soils for the cultivation of potatoes, both on the eastern coast of Famagusta and inland, west of Nicosia. Documents of the early 20th century confirm since then the importance of red soil in the cultivation of potatoes with better quality characteristics that enjoyed higher prices on the market.
"Baptism" rages in Greece
For years there have been reports of the baptism of potatoes of unknown origin as Cypriot. The phenomenon took on uncontrollable proportions especially in Greece where the reputation of the Cypriot potato as particularly tasty is strong. The Cypriot potato stands out by the characteristic red-coloured which is attached to the peel of potatoes. Even that's what some people found a way to copy it. Despite the occasional interventions by the Ministry of Agriculture and the cooperation with the Greek authorities, the problem remains. Let us hope that the European protection of which the product will receive will also include appropriate measures to combat this phenomenon, which is to the detriment of producers in Cyprus.
