Courtesy of MAG
The country has a new variety of potato called “Única”. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), it contains more vitamin C.
This potato variety was developed in the Tissue Laboratory of the Experimental Station Carlos Durán, from INTA, located in Oreamuno de Cartago.
According to MAG, in addition to having more vitamin c, this variety has red skin and creamy pulp, it allows high production per hectare, it’s resistant to pests and diseases, requiring less agrochemicals, it shows high tolerance to high temperatures and it’s already available at the Farmers’ Market.
“Única” joins other varieties that have been released in the last four years, such as the “Paski”, which has had a good acceptance in organic production, “Kamuk”, a variety for high areas and “Durán”, a white potato with suitable conditions for the industry.
There is another variety called “Elbe” that was produced by the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory of the Center for Agronomic Research of the University of Costa Rica, which is ideal for the consumption of hash, mashed potatoes, salads and soups.
In 2016 there were some 1,100 potato producers in Costa Rica, who cultivated 3,700 hectares, produced 98,000 metric tons and generated 280 wages.
Potato consumption in this country amounts to 4,300 tons per month. The potato supports a social system that produces more than 10.3 billion colones annually to the families that depend on this activity.