The supply of locally produced potatoes from the Philippines is sufficient; only chipping potatoes or the variety used by fast-food chains to make French fries are affected by a global shortage, a top official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Saturday.
Agriculture Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said in an interview that the locally produced potato variety or “table potato,” commonly sold in public markets and groceries, have a different texture and consistency compared to the chipping potato variety. She added that fast-food chains also have to comply with their global franchisors in terms of the variety of potatoes to be used to make French fries.
The DA, early this week, confirmed there was a global shortage of the potato variety that is used for French fries, prompting several fast-food chains to limit the portions of the snack, with some restaurants temporarily halting the sale of large servings.
