Potatoes of Florina

It is unknown when the potato was cultivated in the region of Florina.
Due to the altitude and climate, the potato is sown in May and harvested around the beginning of October. The rest of the time the land is left fallow. The experience of the growers, the selected cultivars, the altitude, the ideal temperatures, good drainage, dry soils and the crystal-clear mountain water from springs in the mountainous area are just some of the reasons why the potato is delicious and suitable for all uses: frying, baking and cooking.
Today, there are dozens of producers in both the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of the municipality of Florina. However, the difficulties remain: transport, competition with low-priced imported products, and marketing to other regions. Every year at the end of the summer, the Cultural Association of Ammohori ‘Anagenis’, the Local Community of Ammohori, with the support of the Municipality of Florina, holds the annual potato festival at the end of the summer in the area of the field of Ammohori.
Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy, apart from the traditional dishes based on the potato of Ammochori, the traditional music by a live orchestra and the dance that is not missing from this original celebration.

TEXT: Christos Tegos