After a massive harvest in Germany, farmers are giving away a large number of potatoes for free. The potatoes come from farms in the eastern state of Saxony, where farmers grew more potatoes than the market could handle. The surplus posed a risk of wasting millions of kilograms of potatoes.
To prevent this, a project known as the “Great Potato Rescue” was launched. Since mid-January, trucks loaded with potatoes have been travelling to Berlin and other places. People in the capital have gone out in cold and icy weather to collect free potatoes. Food banks, schools, churches, and charities have also received supplies. The project aims to save around four million kilograms of potatoes. Germany is the largest potato producer in the European Union, and last year’s harvest was so large that prices dropped and demand could not keep up. The plan was organised with help from a Berlin newspaper and an eco-friendly search engine company, which provided funding and support.
The farm company involved said it did not want to throw away good-quality food after a customer cancelled a contract. Instead, it chose to donate the potatoes. Some of the potatoes have also been sent to other parts of Germany and to Ukraine. Supporters of the project say it helps reduce food waste and reminds people that potatoes are an important and nutritious food. However, not everyone agrees. A farmers’ group in the nearby state of Brandenburg criticised the giveaway, calling it a publicity stunt. They argued that giving away free food can hurt local farmers by lowering prices in the market.
In Berlin, a special website listed more than 170 collection points where people could pick up potatoes. At some locations, supplies ran out quickly. Despite mixed reactions, the story has attracted a lot of attention in the media, both in Germany and abroad. For now, the organisers say the giveaway in Berlin will soon slow down because funding is limited. Only one more delivery is expected when the weather improves.
