posted February 22, 2007 09:05 PM         

Purple potatoes, loaded with healthy antioxidants, could be on kitchen tables in two years thanks to the Potato Research Centre in Fredericton.

Source: http://technology.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/Fredericton+researchers+unveil+purple+spuds/NewsandOpinions/ContentPosting.aspx?isfa=1&newsitemid=nb-purplepotatoes&feedname=CBC-TECH-SCIENCE &show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc

The centre unveiled nine new varieties of spuds to large potato product companies such as McCain's on Monday, and the one that got the most attention was a chip potato with a purple star in the middle.

Research team head Richard Tarn says the potato's colour makes it especially healthy, as the antioxidants that produce the colour are believed to fight cancer and help prevent other damage to the body.

"Antioxidants in the diet are good ... and have been associated with a reduced risk of quite a number of diseases, ailments [to do] with aging, and so on," Tarn said.

The potato industry can get the rights to grow the new varieties from the Centre, and can bid on exclusive commercial rights.

But will the companies want to produce purple fries? Gary Hawkins, manager of business development for McCain Produce, says perhaps.

"Someday, maybe," Hawkins said Monday. "There are all kinds of different novelty varieties that are being developed on both the fresh, and chip and processed side, so you just never know."

Mike Allen, Conservative MP from Tobique-Mactaquac, New Brunswick's potato belt, said the potato industry contributes more than $6 billion to the province's economy.

"I think we're going to be continuing to play a role on the research side of this, because that's where government needs to be," Allen said. "We need to be partnering not only with the research centres but also with the producers, because that's what basically accelerates these great products."