Five year old Lucy names new potato variety
Five year-old Lucy Hancock from Cornwall is the winner of a competition organised by Branston Ltd to propose a name for their new potato variety. Lucy, who goes to Penryn Community Infant School, will be presented with her prizes at the Eden Project on Tuesday 12 August at 11.00 a.m.
The competition was part of the Celebration of Food and Farmers held recently at the Eden Project, where children were invited to suggest a name for a new potato variety based on a traditional Peruvian species. The new potato is the result of several years of collaboration between Branston Ltd, the UK's leading supplier of potatoes, and the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI). Previously know only as 00.H.14 A3, the potato will now, thanks to Lucy, be taken forward to National Listing with the proposed name of 'Inca Bella'.
Announcing herself as a lover of reading and eating potatoes, Lucy will be presented with some books, including The Global Garden and The Wonderful World Book, donated by the Eden Project while Ian Wait, General Manager of Branston South West will give her a £50 voucher from WH Smith along with a specially-commissioned badge and certificate to remind Lucy of her special day.
One of over 500 entries to name the new variety, Lucy said: "I'm really excited about winning. I think the new potato is very pretty and I like the name Bella." Lucy's mother, Beki Hancock, added: "We were thrilled to bits when Branston rang and told us Lucy had won. The competition was a good way of raising interest among children about their food and we're looking forward to taking her to the presentation."
Lucy will be accompanied by family and close friends.
David Nelson, Branston's Field Director, commented: "We were delighted with the response to our competition and were amazed at the different names the children came up with. However, Lucy's suggestion struck a chord and we had no hesitation in announcing her as our winner.
"We've been working with Mylnefield Research Services Ltd, the commercial area of SCRI, since 1999 on breeding and selection programmes to harness the best characteristics of the native Peruvian Solanum phureja species. This potato is the first of a number of varieties that we are taking forward to National Listing this year. Now that the first one has a proposed name, we hope to follow on the Inca theme and develop names that are suitable for the rest of our new varieties. We are planning to have our new range ready and available for consumers in a couple of years time."
The Solanum phureja species generally has a stronger flavour and a firmer texture than the cultivated potato species Solanum tuberosum. The new Inca Bella variety has a creamy-yellow flesh and distinctive pinky skin colouration. With its excellent flavour and smooth texture, Inca Bella will be a multi-purpose type of potato, ideal for salads and roasting.
