PEI potato peelers hope to set world record

Potato peelers in Prince Edward Island are going to try to set a new world record this summer. They hope to break a Guinness World Record for the most potatoes peeled by five people in 45 minutes.

The record, of 484 kilograms of potatoes in 45 minutes, is currently held by another area known for potatoes- Idaho. Peel off competitions are being held at fairs across Canada’s smallest province this summer. The winners will take part in the "Great Peel Off" on September 10 at Victoria-by-the-Sea. Lucie Newson, the event's co-ordinator, told CBC News that competitors must peel with a standard kitchen knife, such as a paring knife, or with a standard potato peeler. The attempt to break the world record is part of a new festival called the Red Sands Potato Fest which is being held September 10-12. “We thought the potato was a natural fit because of the amount of potatoes that are grown within the South Shore region,” festival organizer Bill Kendrick told CBC earlier this month. “We felt that while the O'Leary Potato Blossom Festival does a wonderful job of the festival that it has, we wanted to focus more on the culinary aspect of the potato.” The Red Sands Potato Fest will showcase various ways to prepare potatoes, including methods from other countries. There will be games such as potato sack races for children.