There are thousands of varieties of potatoes in the world, they are available in all shapes and colours.

In France, for example, there are currently 250 varieties on the market, while in Spain about 150 varieties are grown.

One of the most commonly used criteria to classify potatoes is their growing cycle, i.e. from the time they are sown until they are ready for harvesting. It can be from ninety to two hundred days and gives rise to four basic types of potato:

• Early potatoes (90 days): They are small, thin and can’t be conserved. They are grown in warm climates and are generally harvested between January and April, there is little availability on the market because they are grown in a limited way and are practically all exported.
• Semi-early potatoes (between 90 and 120 days): They are harvested between April and June and are easily identifiable by their skin which is easily removed as well as by their colour which remains almost white when fried.
• Mid-season potatoes (120 to 150 days): Harvested in June and September.
• Potatoes of conservation or late potatoes (between 150 and 200 days): They are harvested until January, they have the capacity to be preserved more easily during longer. The majority of potatoes available on the European market belong to the latter two categories.

Which variety to choose according to its culinary use?

Each potato has its own characteristics and culinary skills.

Firm flesh potatoes are recommended for steaming, boiling or browning

• Amandine, Annabelle, Belle de Fontenay, Charlotte, Chérie, Franceline, Pompadour, Ratte, Roseval

Potatoes with floury flesh perfectly adapted for purées and soups, are also the most common varieties sold on the market

• Bintje, Agata, Monalisa, Ceasar, Artémis, Bleue d’Auvergne, Marabel, Manon, Samba, Victoria, Vitelotte…

Special varieties for fried potatoes, they have a high dry matter content and absorb little oil. They can also be used for purées or soups

• Agata, Agria, Artémis, Bintje, Bleue d’Auvergne, Caesar, Manon, Marabel, Samba, Victoria, Vitelotte…

In Potato Market you can find all the varieties available on the market.