Around 4 million kilograms of potatoes — neatly sorted, stored in a cool dry place and perfectly fit for eating — were at risk of being destroyed. A Saxony farm had fulfilled an order placed by a trader, but an unusually large harvest this year pushed market prices down and made selling them unprofitable for the trader. Although the trader settled the bill, the potatoes remained in storage.
To prevent waste, search engine Ecosia and the Berliner Morgenpost organized an initiative to distribute the potatoes for free. Hundreds of community groups and organizations are preparing to receive shares of the crop.
Germany leads the European Union in potato production, and the tuber is deeply embedded in the country’s culinary culture — so much so that “Kartoffel” (potato) is sometimes used as a stereotype for Germans. The giveaway not only saves food from being thrown away but also highlights how central potatoes are to German cooking and community support efforts.