Donated Yum Tasmanian potatoes are at the heart of many of the ready-made dishes feeding our neighbours doing it tough.
For the past three years, Yum has been donating up to a tonne of North West and North East-grown spuds each week. They are used in many of the 5000 ready-made meals prepared each week in our Devonport kitchen.
Kitchen manager Pat O’Connell said potatoes starred in 60 to 70 per cent of meals, from soups and roasts to cottage pies and a range of casseroles.
Deemed unsuitable to sell in supermarkets, the humble Yum “seconds” bear only slight nicks, dents, discoloration and size issues.
Yum sales and operations manager Michael Sherriff said the donated potatoes were perfectly good for eating and could have been sold, but the company wanted to give back.
“It’s a no-brainer to donate to an organisation helping Tasmanians, particularly during these tough times,” he said.
Yum Tasmania has been unearthing arguably Australia’s best potatoes since 1995, a combination of the naturally fertile Tasmanian environment and some secret herbs and spices, notably compost, mineral-bearing dust, kelp and green manure crops that are ploughed back into the soil to create a rich home for a dozen potato varieties.
A potato for all seasons
Yum boasts a potato for every occasion and dish: all-rounders such as Kennebecs and Pink Eyes, Bismarks for boiling, Red Royals and Royal George for baking, and Russet for fries.
Each year, Loaves and Fishes Tasmania is given around one million kilograms of food, most of which would have been dumped in landfill.
However, the organisation also buys close to $150,000 worth of food, particularly dairy, meat, rice and pasta.
Loaves and Fishes Tasmania general manager Aaron Kropf said Yum’s consistency of supply and outstanding quality made the producer a valued partner.
“We would have to spend thousands of dollars each year buying potatoes if not for Yum’s generosity,” he said.
“We’re grateful for all our food partners who are keeping Tasmania’s most vulnerable well fed.

One of the Yum Tasmania potato farms in the State’s North East.
By Paul O’Rourke
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