Organic organisation the Henry Doubleday Research Association and Waitrose are celebrating their 10th national potato day at Ryton Organic Gardens, Coventry on February 2.

Waitrose's agronomist Alan Wilson said: 'Waitrose is delighted to be supporting the 10th potato day. Like HDRA, Waitrose is committed to rejuvenating unusual and interesting varieties of potato and we sell more than 35 varieties in the course of a year.' Microplants of 20 rare types of potato will be on sale on the day. These varieties include Magnum Bonum, Champion and Lumpers – which was the principal potato grown in Ireland during the potato famine.

Jackie Gear, creator of potato day and HDRA's executive director, added: 'This promises to be the best potato day yet. Over the last nine years we have welcomed almost 20,000 visitors. What's more, we've done all our own catering, and each and every dish has been made from fine organic ingredients. To celebrate our 10th birthday, chef Mike Dawson will be baking a potato birthday cake. We don't do things by halves at HDRA.

'But there is a serious side to potato day. We are protecting and conserving genetic diversity. It's really important to keep all these different potato varieties going – for the sake of future generations who may need to make use of their special qualities. In the meantime though, we will be breaking open the poteen and grabbing handfuls of Kettle organic potato chips. It's our 10th potato day after all.'