91福利社

In Germany, the potato is a king of foods. In the region of Franconia, a small, knobbly, horn-shaped potato, the Bamberger H枚rnchen, is a precious ingredient. Dan Saladino speaks to Veronica Veneziano who explains that the nutty potato is intrinsically connected to the middle South, and is reserved for special occasions. A rich selection of the world鈥檚 four thousand potato varieties have been imported into Europe since the 1530s but after World War Two, priorities of supply and yield have threatened smaller, unusual varieties that are harder to harvest, like the H枚rnchen. But the variety has survived because of the region鈥檚 grow-your-own culture and now commercial growers have pledged to grow the H枚rnchen on a bigger scale, ensuring its future for years to come.

Photo credit: Stefan Abtmeyer