STROUD'S FIRST EVER POTATO DAY - restaurants join in celebrations

Here's our press release that went out earlier this week....

Transition Stroud members are organising the first ever National Potato Day in Stroud on Saturday 5th February 2011 (i).

Philip Booth, organiser of the Stroud Potato celebrations said: "We will be selling half a tonne of seed potatoes from a stall in Merrywalks to encourage more people to grow their own and learn about the many different varieties of potatoes. There is also an issue of food security that we will be hearing more about as oil prices climb and harvests suffer from the changing climate. 40% of the food we eat is imported: if more people grow their own then we can be less reliant on food imports from other countries."

Philip Booth said: "There are over 450 potato varieties grown in this country with supermarkets offering very little choice. In addition to our stall in Merrywalks on 5th Feb in Stroud Market both Newark and Over Farm will have some different varieties to try (ii) and Woodruffs, J Rools and Mills will all be celebrating the day with a particular potato recipe to try. Our Potato recipe book 'Pan-Fried, Peeled and Proud - Potatoes from Stroud', was launched before Christmas. The book is selling so well that it is now in it's second print and can be bought at the local bookshop, SVP, the Town Council, Made in Stroud, and will be available for sale at the stall for £4 (£3 stroud pounds) (iii)."

Philip Booth added: "It has been wonderful that so many people have given time and energy to make this day happen, especially Dundry Nurseries for their support in supplying the seed potatoes (iv). "

Stroud Potato Day has a website with details of the event and more at:
http://stroudpotatoday.blogspot.com/.

Notes:

(i) Transition Stroud that seeks ways to respond to the twin challenges of Climate Change and oil becoming increasingly difficult to extract. To find out more about Transition Stroud go to: www.transitionstroud.org

(ii) Over Farm will have; Wilja, Nadine and Desiree, Newark farm has Cara, Desiree, Javelin, Belle de Fonteney, and Ratte Charlotte.

(iii) The book is a Transition Stroud initiative and is edited by the aptly named Maris Piper and Desirée de Romano. Desirée said: "Bringing the different elements of the book together has been a joy. Stroud provided suitably gifted people just when they were needed; Dennis Gould stepped forward to do the cover, photographer Fred Chance heroically offered to do the design and layout, poet and artist Jeff Cloves (AKA Edward Rex) was inspired to write a Potato Pie Poem and to create the beautiful illustrations that bring the book to life. The recipes have all come from local people, some professional cooks and some who are experts at creating delicious meals for their friends and family. Woodruffs, J Rool, Mill's Cafe and Guisseppe of Guisseppe's gourmet restaurant all shared their own favourite potato recipes. We even have a recipe from Matthew Fort, food writer in the Guardian and potato fan. It really has been a collaborative effort that has shown the generosity and enthusiasm of the people of the Stroud Valleys. Thanks go to all of them as well as to Stroud Valleys Eco Shop on Threadneedle Street and Stroud Book Shop for selling the book on behalf of Transition Stroud."

(iv) Cheltenham will also be celebrating Potato Day at Dundry Nurseries on 22nd and 23rd January 2011.