The Big Potato exhibit in the Xylofagou community continues to draw attention, this time far beyond the borders of Cyprus, with its fame reaching Sweden.
Fredrik Sandberg, a journalist at Sweden’s Corren newspaper reached out to Phileleftheros seeking assistance in connecting with the mastermind behind the potato exhibit, Georgios Tasou, the community leader of Xylofagou.
Sandberg, who hails from Mjolby, expressed fascination with the Xylofagou potato and highlighted a similar potato exhibit in his town.
The Swedish potato, dubbed the ‘potato-roundabout,’ was introduced in October 2011 in Mjolby which has several farmers cultivating potatoes in winter, as well as restaurants serving potato-based dishes.
According to Sandberg, the Swedish potato initially faced scepticism, much like its Cypriot counterpart. “At first, people thought it was very ugly and very expensive because it cost about €10,000,” he said.
However, over the years, it has become a local landmark, even earning a place on Google Maps.
When contacted by Phileleftheros, Tasou proudly revealed that the Xylofagou potato will soon be featured in a news piece in Sweden, marking a marketing achievement for the community. “Internationally, the potato has become the symbol of Xylofagou,” he stated.
Despite occasional criticism, Tasos sees the attention, whether positive or negative, as a positive development, highlighting that the Xylofagou exhibit has become a point of reference that “will go down in history.”
“Next to the exhibit, there’s a kiosk that sells Cypriot potatoes and every day we have visitors,” Tasou added.
When asked why the Big Potato was not decorated this Christmas, Xylofagou’s community leader said that the decision was intentional. “It was to draw attention to it again. Everyone this year is asking why it wasn’t decorated. This way, we brought it back into the spotlight.”
As the Xylofagou potato continues to make waves, the debate over which is the more beautiful potato—the Swedish or the Cypriot—remains a matter of personal taste. One thing is certain; these spuds are leaving a lasting impression on the global stage.
The Big Potato is a 4.9 metres-tall statue in Xylofagou made of fibreglass. It was erected to commemorate the villages’ potato-producing history and was shaped after the Spunta Potato breed, which is grown locally and is famous for its abnormally long shape. According to Xylofagou community leader George Tasou, it was inspired by ‘The Big Fish’ statue in Belfast.
Two months after its erection, on January 1, 2022, Big Potato was vandalised. A 500 euro reward was raised for those who found the vandals but no information was provided. It was re-erected afterwards.
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