The first sack of potatoes exported from Malta to Germany has been presented to the Jansen-Dongen Edika supermarkets chain in Berlin by parliamentary secretary in the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry Francis Agius.

This is the third year that Maltese potatoes are being exported to Germany, made possible by membership of the European Union, as there were now no quotas for exports to EU markets, Dr Agius said.

He pointed out that potatoes were also exported to Holland, but he did not refer to the recent case that involved Tunisian potatoes being sold there as Maltese produce.

Dr Agius said there were 800 potato growers in Malta and Gozo. Over 5,000 tonnes of potatoes had been exported last year and the indications were that the produce was doing well with the Edika chain.