Cara
Irish-bred maincrop. Pink-eyed cream skin, scab-resistant.
At a glance
Best uses
About this variety
Irish-bred maincrop. Pink-eyed cream skin, scab-resistant.
Cara is classified as a western europe variety released in 1976, primarily used for baking / roasting, all-purpose. For agronomic specs, breeder details, and trial data not yet captured here, refer to the source registries linked at the bottom of this page.
Where is Cara grown?
Cara is most commonly grown in Western Europe, with original release from Ireland. The variety is commercially established within its regional context. Cultivation footprint reflects the variety's adaptation to local agroclimatic conditions and the breeding programme's regional focus.
Production data for the specific countries where Cara dominates is documented through CIP, USDA, AHDB, ICAR-CPRI, NAK Netherlands, and national agricultural agencies depending on origin. Cross-reference our country profiles for production context — see the global country index or specific producers in Western Europe.
What is Cara best used for?
Cara is best suited to baking / roasting, all-purpose. Irish-bred maincrop. Pink-eyed cream skin, scab-resistant.
End-use suitability is determined by specific gravity, flesh colour, dry-matter content, and reducing-sugar levels. All-purpose and floury varieties with mid-to-high specific gravity work well for mashing and baking; the cooked texture depends on starch:water ratio. See the complete varieties guide for cross-variety comparison.
When was Cara released and by whom?
Cara was released in 1976 by Ireland. The variety belongs to the Western Europe family of cultivars and reflects the breeding objectives of its origin programme — typically a combination of yield improvement, disease resistance, and end-use specification matching the dominant commercial demand of the period.
Variety persistence over multiple decades is unusual in modern agriculture; Cara's continued commercial cultivation reflects either distinctive culinary characteristics or specific niche-market demand that newer varieties haven't displaced.
How does Cara compare to similar varieties?
Within the Western Europe family of cultivars, Cara. Comparable varieties include Bintje, Maris Piper, King Edward — each with distinct breeding histories and end-use profiles. Cross-comparison data is available through our variety database.
For systematic comparison see the variety compare tool or browse all 237 varieties in our database. Each variety has its own dedicated profile with origin, traits, and uses documented from primary breeder sources.
Frequently asked questions about Cara
What is Cara potato?+
Cara is a western europe potato variety released in 1976 originating from Ireland. Irish-bred maincrop. Pink-eyed cream skin, scab-resistant.
What is Cara potato best used for?+
Cara is best suited to baking / roasting, all-purpose. Irish-bred maincrop. Pink-eyed cream skin, scab-resistant.
When was Cara released?+
Cara was released in 1976. The variety is classified as western europe.
Where is Cara grown?+
Cara is most commonly grown in Western Europe, with original release from Ireland. Cross-reference our country profiles for production data.
Variety profiles aggregate data from CIP Lima genebank, ICAR-CPRI variety catalogue, EU Common Catalogue, USDA PVPO, AHDB Potato Variety Database, NIAB, NAK Netherlands, the Potato Pedigree Database, national breeding programmes (CAAS, EARO, BARI, INTA, EMBRAPA, INIFAP, IHAR-PIB, VNIIKKH), and peer-reviewed literature in Potato Research and the American Journal of Potato Research.
Updated May 2026 · Reviewed by Potatopedia editorial team.