The potato industry wants to banish the term 'the humble potato' and wants the crop recognised as 'a food hero'.
Terry Olsen, who chaired the Organising Committee for last week's World Potato Congress in Christchurch, says the hero label was used by a number of speakers because the potato is highly nutritious, uses little water and can be grown in almost any conditions.
He says that makes it an ideal crop for feeding a growing population during a time of global warming and increasing competition for land.
