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consumption/table potatoes

English translation: general/specific use

08:47 Sep 10, 2011
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Food & Drink
English term or phrase: consumption/table potatoes
I am translating a short video by a Dutch company about the potato industry. In the video, there are many kinds of potatoes mentioned. I am in doubt as to the following terms: "consumption potatoes" and "table potatoes".
Here's one fragment from the movie:

"Consumption potatoes in different varieties and sizes, in various colours and tastes, with different frying and boiling qualities, for every purpose in Holland or beyond. Table potatoes, always cultivated ecologically and handled and stored with care."

What I have found looking for the Polish translations is that both of them are called the same in the Polish sources. My doubt is whether these two terms can be regarded as synonymous or is there any difference between the two terms here?

Any help appreciated
Adam Załuski
Local time: 13:09
Selected answer:general/specific use
Explanation:
I would think "cultivated ecologically" gives a clue here.

Consumption is used for potatoes sold both for further processing and for retail sale (e.g. unwashed bintjes in 10kg bags). Also on the retail market there are "speciality" potatoes, generally sold in 2.5kg bags here in France, that are washed, of a uniform size, recommended for specific types of cooking, and sometimes grown organically. I think they are referring to the latter here - exclusively for table use (I don't imagine processors would ever use them as they are inevitably more expensive).
Selected response from:

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 12:09
Grading comment
Thank you for the explanation!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +5general/specific use
Sheila Wilson
2 +1potatoes
Tony M


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
potatoes


Explanation:
Certainly in everyday language, I don't believe any specific distinction is made in EN (it is in FR)

consumption = multi-purpose, varieties suitable for making mash, chips, etc. — but definitely available retail! (in FR, this is used for eating potatoes, as distinct from 'seed potatoes' for planting!)
table = better visual characteristics, suitable for eating whole (cf. new potatoes, oven-baked potatoes, etc.)

Tony M
France
Local time: 13:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  amarpaul: Quite.Your comment on the 'table' ones being 'premium' is also a good way of putting it. // True. Nothing is as "plain Jane" as the poor, nondescript potato! Hence the saying "... was the meat to my potatoes"
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, amarpaul! I don't think we make the distinction in quite the same way in EN (AFAIK?)
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
general/specific use


Explanation:
I would think "cultivated ecologically" gives a clue here.

Consumption is used for potatoes sold both for further processing and for retail sale (e.g. unwashed bintjes in 10kg bags). Also on the retail market there are "speciality" potatoes, generally sold in 2.5kg bags here in France, that are washed, of a uniform size, recommended for specific types of cooking, and sometimes grown organically. I think they are referring to the latter here - exclusively for table use (I don't imagine processors would ever use them as they are inevitably more expensive).

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 12:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thank you for the explanation!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: Quite! The 'table' ones are 'premium' in several respects
10 mins
  -> Thanks Tony - "premium" was a word I was searching for; premium, organically-cultivated potatoes for the table
agree  amarpaul: well explained.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Martin Riordan: I think "general use" would have sat better in the English translation.
3 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Ashutosh Mitra: Right explanation.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Phong Le
18 hrs
  -> Thanks
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