Faroe Islands

Potato cultivation in the Faroe Islands is a deeply rooted tradition shaped by the archipelago’s cool, oceanic climate, limited arable land, and rugged basaltic terrain. While grown throughout the islands, notable potato-growing areas include Svinoy Island in the northeast, known for its flat to rolling surfaces and green valleys, and the rural valleys around Tórshavn, Oyran in Sørvágur, and the Sandur beach area, where deeper, more fertile soils allow for small-scale cultivation.

Most Faroese households maintain family plots primarily for home consumption, as commercial-scale production is limited. Approximately 80% of potatoes consumed are imported, yet locally grown varieties such as Oleva, Blue Congo (locally known as “Congo”), Sina, Solist, and Folva are highly prized for their flavor and freshness. A traditional unnamed red-skinned variety is also maintained. Potatoes remain a staple in the Faroese diet, commonly served boiled, baked, or mashed with lamb or fish. The Agricultural Agency (Búnaðarstovan) oversees research, agricultural support, and development initiatives to sustain this resilient farming heritage.

According to FAO statistics, the Faroe Islands produced approximately 1,528.52 tonnes of potatoes in 2023.

Potatoes arrived in the Faroe Islands in the mid-1800s, significantly later than on mainland Europe, but quickly became a vital crop. By the 1820s and 1830s, crofters began cultivating small turf-enclosed plots, and potatoes rapidly gained importance for food security, supporting population growth and enabling agricultural expansion.

As cultivation intensified, seed scarcity emerged as a challenge; in 1839, Governor Pløyen strategically imported seed potatoes from Orkney to address the issue, contributing to broader agricultural modernization.

Traditional Faroese potato farming adopted a unique method called Vágaveltan, where seed potatoes are planted and then covered with inverted turf strips rather than being hilled in rows. This labor-intensive technique helps maintain soil warmth, naturally suppresses weeds, and simplifies late-season harvesting by clearly exposing planted rows, making it well-suited to the islands’ cool climate and turf-rich soils.