“A world record is growing here!”

(22 June 2022) (Edit.) The “Swiss Farmers’ Union” (Schweizer Bauernverband SBV) is drawing attention to itself in its anniversary year with a World Record Rösti* campaign. The children and young people involved are thus given a welcome connection to the realities of agriculture and a staple food, the potato. Unfortunately, it takes on a current urgency in the context of world events, the safeguarding of food sovereignty and one’s own provisions and preparedness.

Schoolchildren and youths themselves help to plant seed potatoes, they can watch them grow and blossom and – with enough sun and water – there will be a considerable harvest. When digging, they can uncover all the smaller and larger potatoes that have grown from a single seed potato, like a “treasure hunt”. A school trip to the federal capital and the giant rösti promise more shared experiences they will not forget for a while.

This year the Swiss Farmers’ Union celebrates its 125th anniversary. This is being celebrated with various events, including the World Record Rösti. For this purpose, potatoes are planted in big bags, raised beds or pallet boxes distributed throughout the country.

SBV wants to celebrate the anniversary with its members, employees and the population. The highlight of the festivities is set for 19 September on the Bundesplatz, the square in front of the federal parliament building in Bern. On the occasion the farmers’ association will launch a world record attempt.

The ultimate goal: to prepare a rösti in its largest ever version in a giant pan. And it will be made with potatoes grown in all corners of Switzerland during the summer.

But to do so, the potatoes have to be produced first. And that is currently happening all over Switzerland. The potatoes are planted in public parks, big bags, raised beds or pallet boxes. The cantonal farmers’ associations, together with farmers, are taking care of them until harvest time in September. The “world record potatoes” are marked with the inscription “A world record is growing here”.

On 19 September, everyone will then bring the potatoes to Bern for the cooking and savouring event, where the World Record Rösti will be sizzled for passers-by on the Bundesplatz,” writes the SBV. The event will be framed by market stalls, farm discovery experiences, educational trails as well as food and refreshments.

You can find out who is taking part in the
world record attempt on www.hier-wächst-ein-weltrekord.ch/de/

Source: Schweizer Bauer, 27 April 2022
(Translation “Swiss Standpoint“)

* Rösti: a popular Swiss potato dish eaten all over Switzerland; coarsely grated potatoes, either parboiled or raw, are fried in a flat pan until brown and crisp on the outside.

The Swiss Farmers‘ Association – Der Schweizer Bauernverband (SBV) The SBV is the umbrella organisation for domestic agriculture. All cantonal and supra-regional farmers’ associations, the national professional and producers’ organisations and various other agricultural organisations are members – totalling more than 80. This year, we are celebrating our birthday! Yes, the SBV is turning a proud 125 years old and would like to set various highlights in the anniversary year. To this end, it has organised this world record, which starts with the potato-growing campaign in the cantons, makes its way to the federal capital in autumn, and finally, on 19 September, prepares and serves the world’s largest rösti.