Malta holds Qrendi Potato, Agrarian Festival

The third edition of the Qrendi Potato and Agrarian Festival kicked off on Sunday morning in Malta's southwestern village Qrendi, near the archipelago's popular destination Blue Grotto. Organized by Qrendi local council, various of events such as the different potato varieties, agricultural equipment and machinery used in the harvesting and exportation of potatoes as well as the potato-based food stalls were held at the locality's historical and beautiful Cecilia Pick Garden. The increasing popular potato ice cream can be early found from the entrance of the Potato and Agrarian Fesival. There are also local singers and performers who participate in the festival to entertain both tourists and locals alike. Qrendi's agricultural heritage is intrinsically linked with this important vegetable, as it was here that the first experiments with various different potato seeds were carried out by the Maltese government during the time of Sir Alexander John Ball, Malta's British Governor General. This successful experimentation changed the agriculture industry in Malta which had hitherto been geared solely towards the cotton industry. Qrendi is some of Malta's major potato producers and exporters are located. Production of potatoes is fast growing and exports, have now diversified to Netherlands, Britain, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland.