Lumper potatoes

[Nicos]

Will will be on sale in Marks & Spencer for 2 weeks in the run-up to St Patrick's Day on 17 March.

Worth having a taste perhaps???

BBC News - Antrim farmer revives Irish famine potato

[WendyC]

The name doesn't make it sound very appealing. Interesting though.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Is that the one which was catastrophically struck down by blight, with the resultant crop failure causing the starvation of hundreds of thousands? If so, I might give it a miss.

[Aberdeenplotter]

That's the one Hazel and it happened for a number of years. I really can't see the point of putting this variety back on the market.

[chris]

Probably so the "amateur grower" can be blamed for spreading blight around the shop again?

[Nicos]

Apparently it's very tasty!
...maybe in a few years they can cross it successfully with a blight resistant variety producing something which actually is tasty and doesn't turn to gloop when cooked?

[bearded bloke]

I really can't see the point of putting this variety back on the market.

Surely by that yardstick all non blight resistant varieties should be taken off the market,or am I missing something here

[Aberdeenplotter]

BB, the failure of this particular variety caused the deaths of many thousands of people. I'm making no comment about any other varieties, the failure of this particular variety was disastrous and is well recorded.

[bearded bloke]

AP,I thought the deaths were brought about because of starvation,because the crop failed & it was not only a large part of the basic diet but also a major export item,with no spuds to eat or to export there was no income & so a viscous circle ensued.

[Aberdeenplotter]

BB yes correct

[bearded bloke]

Given my brief surmise is accepted as generally correct,surely any variety sown in that location at that time that was prone to blight,would have had the same general outcome.