Irish love of potatoes waning

Irish people are ditching the humble potato from dinner plates and are opting for pasta and rice instead.

A conference marking the UN International Year of the Potato in Dublin has heard that the sale of spuds here fell by 14% last year alone.

There are now only 600 commercial growers, about half the number of a decade ago.

Consumers are buying less potatoes and switching to other foods such as pasta and rice.

Research shows that potatoes have an image problem. They are seen as unfashionable, difficult to prepare, and fattening.

But nutritionist Paula Mee says the potatoes are not as fattening as other foods and are good sources of carbohydrates and vitamin C.

Padraig Walshe of the Irish Farmers' Association said it would be unforgivable if the potato industry here were wiped out.

The Minister of State for Horticulture, Trevor Sargent, said there needs to be a return to the basic of growing and consuming of more natural foods - especially potatoes.