Chad Hutchinson, an assistant professor of horticulture at the university's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, hopes this special potato will help America's stable food re-find favor with die-hard carb counters.
"Consumers are going to love the flavor and appearance of this potato and the fact that it has 30 per cent fewer carbohydrates compared to a standard Russet baking potato," said Hutchinson.
"The potato doesn't look or taste like anything that's now on the market, and it's not a genetically engineered crop," he continued. "When it comes to beautiful potatoes, this one is a real winner for growers and consumers."
Hutchinson said five seasons of evaluation show the tuber can handle Florida weather extremes and is ready to be marketed as a premium, gourmet potato.
Florida University is the first test site in the United States for the European import, which was developed by HZPC, a seed company based in the Netherlands.
The potato will be available to consumers from January 2005, though its name is yet to be determined
Hutchinson said 3 ½ ounces of the new potato contain about 13 grams of carbohydrate compared to around 19 grams in the same size serving of a Russet Burbank potato.
"Although potatoes are not part of the Atkins diet, the fact of the matter is that potatoes contain no fat, are a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins C and B-6, are low in sodium and high in potassium," said Hutchinson.
Florida potato growers hope this crop will be a boon for their $120 million industry and they have formed the SunFresh of Florida Marketing Cooperative in anticipation of new trade.
Wayne Smith, president of the cooperative in Hastings, said commercial growers will plant their first crop in September for a January harvest.
However, this expected success all relies on being able to win back America's low carb dieters, an estimated 40 million to 50 million people, who have been turned off eating the humble spud.