Latvia

Potato cultivation is a vital component of Latvia’s agricultural sector, with production spread across the country’s varied landscapes, including the Zemgale Plain, and the upland regions of Vidzeme, Kurzeme, and Latgale.

Key potato-growing zones include Central Latvia—particularly the Priekuļi area, home to the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics (AREI), the nation’s premier center for potato breeding, virus-free seed development, and varietal research. Southern and eastern regions such as Skaistkalne parish are known for commercial-scale farming and elite seed potato cultivation, while northern and western areas support smaller family-run farms and garden plots that play an essential role in local food systems.

Latvia’s potato sector features a wide array of locally bred varieties, including Agra, Laima, Madara, Agrie Rožu, Agrie Dzeltenie, Priekulu Visagrie, Laimdota, Lenora, Brasla, Bete, Zile, and Magdalena, offering a mix of early to late-maturing options suited to diverse agro-climatic conditions. Alongside domestic selections, varieties like Sante from the Netherlands are widely grown, particularly for seed and market needs. AREI’s advanced research in tissue culture, genetic diversity, disease resistance, and tuber quality underpins the country’s resilient and evolving potato industry.

According to FAO statistics, Latvia produced approximately 147,500 tonnes of potatoes in 2023.

Potatoes were first introduced to Latvia, then the Duchy of Courland, in the late 17th century, with Duke Jacob cultivating them in his manor gardens in Kuldīga. Initially considered ornamental and nicknamed “devil apples” (velna āboli), potatoes were met with suspicion, and landlords offered incentives to encourage their cultivation. By the mid-18th century, recurring grain failures prompted authorities to promote potatoes as a reliable food source, eventually making them a staple by the 19th century.

As Latvia modernized its agriculture, dedicated breeding programs were established, notably at the Priekuļi Plant Breeding Station from 1931, which developed over 60 domestic varieties in collaboration with Stende and Carnikava research units. Under Soviet rule, potato cultivation expanded dramatically, with up to 150,000 hectares under production by the late 1980s, making it a defining crop of Latvian rural life.