Low-Carb Potato

With 1/3 fewer carbohydrates that a conventional russet potato, the new SunLite spud may be available February, 2005.  Developed jointly by the University of Florida, Florida potato growers and the Dutch seed company HZPC Holland BV, 2,000 to 2,500 acres will be planted in 2005, with more acreage to be planted when the seed supply increases.  The potato is round to oval, has cream-colored skin and light yellow flesh.  It can be grown from Florida City to Jacksonville from January through June and can go from the field to supermarket shelves in two to five days, making it fresher than potatoes stored in coolers for months.  The low-carb potato has 13.93 carbohydrates per 100 grams, or 30 percent less than the 19.87 grams in the industry's standard, the Russet. A half-cup serving has 10.9 grams of carohydrates, compared with 15.5 carbohydrate  grams for a cooked Russet potato. 

I have not been able to obtain a published description of the breeding process but newspaper accounts indicate that this potato was developed using traditional breeding methods.