210
2 months ago
Like potatoes? Berlin is giving away 4 million kilos
Summary
As an initiative redistributes a bumper surplus of spuds, here's a look at the Germans' great love affair with the potato.
Around 4 million kilograms of potatoes, neatly sorted and stored in a cool, dry place — in perfect condition for consumption, and yet threatened with destruction.
A farm in Saxony, Germany, ended up stuck with a harvest of potatoes that had been ordered by a trader. Due to this year's unusually high supply that affected the market price of potatoes, selling them was no longer profitable for the trader.
The order was financially settled, but the potatoes were left in storage.
What could be done to save all this produce from going to waste?
Search engine Ecosia and the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper organized a collaborative initiative, and now the potatoes are being distributed for free.
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Germany leads the European Union in potato harvests, and "Kartoffel" is sometimes used as a derogatory term to describe Germans.
As hundreds of collective groups and organizations prepare to receive their share of free potatoes, here's more background on how spuds became a cultural staple in Germany and the diverse ways Germans cook them.
While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
Around 4 million kilograms of potatoes, neatly sorted and stored in a cool, dry place — in perfect condition for consumption, and yet threatened with destruction.
A farm in Saxony, Germany, ended up stuck with a harvest of potatoes that had been ordered by a trader. Due to this year's unusually high supply that affected the market price of potatoes, selling them was no longer profitable for the trader.
The order was financially settled, but the potatoes were left in storage.
What could be done to save all this produce from going to waste?
Search engine Ecosia and the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper organized a collaborative initiative, and now the potatoes are being distributed for free.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Germany leads the European Union in potato harvests, and "Kartoffel" is sometimes used as a derogatory term to describe Germans.
As hundreds of collective groups and organizations prepare to receive their share of free potatoes, here's more background on how spuds became a cultural staple in Germany and the diverse ways Germans cook them.
While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
AI Description
The article discusses a unique initiative in Berlin to redistribute a surplus of potatoes, highlighting the cultural significance of potatoes in Germany. It also touches on the economic implications of market fluctuations affecting agricultural produce.