Trip to potato fields leaves Georgia on my mind
Protected by the Caucasus Mountains, Georgia has great potential to grow good quality agricultural products – and the consumer market prospects are most encouraging as trade picks up between the country and its neighbours such as Armenia, writes Heather Briggs.
A recent trip to this former Soviet country revealed that around 50 per cent of the population still earn their living from agriculture.
It was fascinating to see some of their potato fields; although they have some areas that have soil that is similar to northern Germany, they also have areas with 'black soil' which is synonymous with good quality crops. Some of the varieties they grow are the same as we have here – Marfona and Desiree included. When I looked up a number of others on the Potato Council variety database I couldn't find them there.
Although these growers share some of the same challenges as our British farmers, such as late blight and aphids, they also have some of the same benefits of our Scottish seed producers. Cool mountain regions are great for producing good quality seed potatoes and the Caucasian mountain regions are fast developing a great reputation for them.
I was told that demand for Georgian potatoes is strong, but at present they only supply the fresh market as the country doesn't yet have a processing plant. However, with growing tastes for Western foods in the cities, I imagine it won't be long before someone takes advantage of the opportunity.
Wool from Georgian sheep is legendary. Most of us know the tale of Jason and the Golden Fleece, but how many realise that the fleece was from a Georgian sheep? I was told that the fleeces were dipped in the mountain streams and laid on the bottom to filter gold in the Svaneti region (northern Georgia). This apparently then led to the legend of the Golden Fleece because of the gold dust becoming trapped in the fleece. Maybe this was just another way of 'panning for gold' that many other countries have done for centuries. Local experts informed me that the Merino sheep, which is now popular in southern Europe, was originally from Georgia too.
Sheep are still very important element of farming in the country. One of the mountain breeds, the Tusheti, has achieved local fame for its wool, which grows to more than nine inches long.
I have to mention Georgian wine, which is starting to be a huge export success. I hope that I shall soon be able to buy it here in Britain!
