Australia
November 10, 2014
The future of Aussie potatoes is bright, with industry research indicating that more young people are eager to increase their potato purchases in the future.
The second wave of results from the industry-funded Potato Tracker project has been released, shedding light on the triggers that influence consumers’ purchasing habits of fresh potatoes.
“This month’s results show an increase in the propensity to purchase potatoes in 18-24 year olds, particularly males,” said AUSVEG spokesperson Tamara Ungar.
“These results show that the Australian potato industry has a long, bright future ahead, driven by young people looking to increase their potato consumption.”
AUSVEG is the leading horticultural body representing more than 2,000 Australian potato growers.
Interestingly, the results from the second wave of the Potato Tracker also show that Australian potato consumers are becoming increasingly engaged with the country of origin of the potatoes they purchase.
“Australia’s reputation as a top quality producer of fresh potatoes is reflected in consumers indicating an interest in product origin, and a preference for Australian grown produce,” said Ms Ungar.
The project is being carried out by consumer research organisation Colmar Brunton, which uses online questionnaires to sample consumer demographics, and provide growers with up-to-date market data to help them target areas for market growth.
The report shows that taste and ease of preparation are major factors influencing consumers’ purchasing habits of fresh potatoes.
“Australians are becoming increasingly time-poor, unable to spend hours and hours for meal preparation. The results are showing consumers are turning to easy-to-prepare potato varieties as a tasty and healthy option to obtain the essential nutrients required for a well-balanced diet,” said Ms Ungar.
“Potatoes are low in fat, a good source of vitamin B6 and potassium, which can reduce cholesterol levels and improve the health of your heart.”
“The report suggests young people are embracing all of the inherent health benefits from consuming potatoes, and that is great news for the industry,” said Ms Ungar.
This project has been funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd using the National Fresh Potato Levy and matched funds from the Australian Government.
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