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Nell McAndrew backs British potato farmers latest campaign

Press release: 17/06/2008

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As the credit crunch bites and food prices rocket, Nell McAndrew today backs potato farmers by launching a campaign by the Potato Council to encourage shoppers to return to the kind of ‘wartime diet’ staples such as potatoes that their mothers and grandmothers ate to obtain their daily nutrients whilst allowing them to keep an eye on their wallets.

Contrary to what we may think, today’s generation’s understanding of food basics is lacking compared with previous generations – despite Granny not understanding the vagaries of modern British food – at least she knew how to cook a wholesome family meal from scratch.

So now the campaign by the Potato Council is set to challenge modern-day misconceptions about needing to spend a small fortune to eat well whilst reminding mums that, when choosing potatoes at mealtimes, British potatoes contain only 100 calories per medium potato and absolutely no fat.

In the dark days of World War II, Potato Pete, the war-time hero you could eat, was a cartoon character called into action by the Ministry of Food.  He led the campaign on the home-front to encourage the population to grow, cook and eat more spuds, highlighting their superb value, versatility and the fact that one medium sized potato contains almost a third of your daily vitamin B6 requirement.

Traditional nursery rhymes were adapted to get the nation interested in simple home cooked produce:  “There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do. She gave them potatoes instead of some bread, And the children were happy and very well fed. “

Now as shoppers begin to feel the pinch, they are again turning to the kind of diet their mothers and grandmothers ate as, according to retail analysts TNS, sales of potatoes shot up by 8% in the 52 weeks to 20 April 2008.

Kathryn Race, from the Potato Council commented: “The stunning photographs of Nell, who regularly eats potatoes, are designed to highlight that the dishes our grandparents used to cook were healthy, nutritious and easy on the wallet as well as the waistline.”

Nell McAndrew said, “For all those busy mums out there’s no better time to love potatoes.  As well as being great value for money, especially when budgets are stretched, potatoes are packed full of essential nutrients, are naturally fat free, low in calories and contain a host of nutrients – there’s nothing quite like the British potato and I’m thrilled to be on board.”

The celebrated food historian, Ivan Day, commented: “For nearly 500 years the potato has been a healthy staple in Britons’ diets, so I’m delighted this value-for-money, nutrient-rich food is making a come back in the hearts and on the plates of the nation.”

Since their introduction to the British plate in the late 1600s, potatoes have played a continual role as one of the nation’s favourite staple foods.  Good value for money, quick and easy to cook, and providing a wealth of essential nutrients, British potatoes are the ultimate taste sensation that have stood the test of culinary time.

 The rise of the potato:
The potato was first cultivated in Peru in 300BC
In 1537 Europeans come into contact with the potato for the first time when the Conquistadors reach Peru.
The potato is introduced to England in the 1590s
In October 1995, the potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space aboard shuttle Columbia.  NASA called in top boffins to help them develop super nutritious and versatile spuds to feed astronauts on long space voyages.
Around 140,000 hectares are devoted to the growing of potatoes in Britain and on average we each eat 96kg per person per year!
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Notes to Editor

The Potato Council, supporting the British potato industry, is funded by potato growers and potato trade purchasers and is part of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board www.ahdb.org.uk

For further details or to arrange an interview with Nell McAndrew, or food historian, Ivan Day, please contact:

Robin Kar                       Kate Hopper
robin.kar@ketchum.com     kate.hopper@ketchum.com
020 7611 3637                 020 7611 3713
07967 315 770                 07775 643 804

Nicola Hanley
Nicola.hanley@ketchum.com
020 7611 3612
07843 573 214

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