In a little over a week, the potato town itself – Trentham – will hold its annual Spudfest, which celebrates spuds in their many varieties and incarnations.

Bernie White, who has been farming spuds for 40 years, said Trentham had been a potato town for more than 150 years thanks to its rich volcanic soil.

However he said in recent years, competition from cheap, poorer-quality imports had affected local farmers, who now produced a fraction of the potatoes they did in years past.

Mr White said his  farm, which produced five varieties including Dutch cream, Nicola, Desiree, royal blue and purple majesty, used to grow 1000 tonnes a year but had scaled back to 400 since the imports started.

Great Trentham Spudfest organiser Peter Young said that pressure was part of what led the locals to create the annual festival, which now attracts about 4000 people each year.

“Trentham was fairly down and out about 10 years ago. The pub had burnt down and that was the local drawcard, and the shops were empty,” Mr Young said.

“The locals said instead of whingeing about it, they said let’s not be couch potatoes, let’s get off our bums and do it.

“They said let’s put Trentham back on the map.”

Mr Young said the town was now “humming”, with Spudfest playing a part in that revitalisation.

Mr White said his favourite variety was the Nicola potato, which was easy to grow and was low in GI.

“It’s a nice masher, really good roaster, good all-rounder and great for gnocchi,” he said.

The festival will be held Saturday May 7 at the Quarry Street Reserve from 10am to 4pm.

The event will feature potato sales, chef demonstrations, children’s entertainment, a spud digger hut and a Spudfest dinner at Trentham Golf Course.

For more information on the Great Trentham Spudfest, visit www.trenthamspudfest.org.au