economy
January 31, 2026
Record harvest sparks mass giveaway of free potatoes across Berlin
From zoos to soup kitchens, people are hauling away tonnes of surplus spuds after the biggest crop in 25 years
TL;DR
- Germany experienced a "potato flood" due to the largest potato yield in 25 years.
- A farmer organized a free potato distribution in Berlin called '4000 Tonnes' to address the surplus.
- Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, kindergartens, schools, churches, non-profits, and the Berlin zoo received potatoes.
- Ordinary citizens collected sacks and buckets of potatoes at designated distribution points.
- The initiative was organized by a Berlin newspaper and the eco-friendly search engine Ecosia.
- The potato's historical significance in Germany, dating back to Frederick II's decree, is being revisited.
- Recipes and culinary uses for the surplus potatoes are being shared online.
- Celebrity chef Marco Müller and former Chancellor Angela Merkel's potato soup recipe are highlighted.
- Some farmers criticize the giveaway for further devaluing their crops.
- Environmental lobbyists compare the glut to historical 'butter mountains' and 'milk lakes,' citing issues in the food industry.
- Approximately 3,200 tonnes of potatoes are reportedly still available.
Continue reading the original article