Spud giveaway proves big hit
Shoppers have taken more than two tonnes of free potatoes from Spudshed this morning after a controversial move by owner Tony Galati to address an over supply by giving them away.
Owner Tony Galati vowed to give away 200 tonnes of potatoes starting from midnight last night until Sunday after an over supply resulting in prices dropping to less than 50c/kg.
No compo for growers: spud king
Before 7am this morning, more than four 500kg crates of the potato had been shifted from the Innaloo store.
Rival growers had described the move as a publicity stunt but shoppers this morning appeared unfazed as they filled carrier bags of the freebies this morning.
Some customers made the trip especially for the free potatoes, including Sahr M’bayo, who took away several bags for his family.
“I’m on a disability pension, I struggle week to week so when this came up I had to take advantage of it,” Mr M’bayo said.
Other customers said they questioned Mr Galati’s decision to give away the potatoes and the impact on other growers but still took away a free carrier bag of them with their shopping.
Management were bracing for a busy day at the store and extra staff had been brought in to manage the crowds expected later today.
Mr Galati could also face action from the Potato Marketing Board over allegations he has overplanted in an industry which requires growers to stick to quotas.
Some growers are dumping potatoes because of the over supply.
Peter Sargonov said it did not make sense to waste the potatoes if the public could use them.
“It’s pretty good for us. It’ll cost the spud board a lot of money I imagine but it’s better than feeding them to the cows,” Mr Sargonov said.
