Denmark

Kartofler

Year
2007
Production
1 650 000 tons
Harvested area
103 740 acres
Yield
15.92 tons/acre

Source:
Danmarks Statistik

Although the first potato tuber was planted in Denmark's Royal Botanical Garden in 1642, Danish farmers did not start growing it until almost a century later, around 1720. It is believed that farming of potatoes was introduced either from England and Ireland or via Huguenots emigrating from France.

Each year, Danes consume an average of some 120 lb of potatoes per head. While potato consumption is well below that of other countries, such as Ireland, potatoes are nevertheless an important part of the national diet. Potatoes are almost ubiquitous in Danish cooking, and an essential side dish to every hot meal. Denmark's legendary akvavit is distilled from potato.

Potato production in Denmark totalled some 1.65 million tons in 2007, with average yields of almost 16 tons per acre. Only 36 percent of total output is consumed directly as eating potatoes. In fact, more than half of Denmark's potato harvest is processed into potato flour, while nine percent is used as seed potatoes for replanting.

Further information from the Danish Potato Partnership