‘The drought has left its mark’: Slovenia’s potato lovers lament low yields

Prekmurje, Slovenia – Lipovci, a village of about 1,000 residents in the flatlands of northeastern Slovenia, transformed into a hub celebrating a beloved national dish. The air carried a sweet, juicy aroma as it hosted the 26th international festival of roasted potatoes. Hundreds of people and more than 50 societies were united – farmers and avid potato eaters from across the country, roasting their own versions of this national dish one September morning. “I’m a potato guy, through and through,” Matjaz Lavric, from the capital, Ljubljana, who has attended the festival for the past 15 years, told Al Jazeera. “Life just isn’t the same without them … When I’m home, potatoes are always on the menu.” His recipe’s key ingredient is tarragon.