They may be Little Potatoes but the aim is big

There are few industries ascompetitive as thefood sector.

People in the business of sellingfruit and vegetables often have to come up with new ways to get their products noticed on grocery store shelves, where there is so much choice.

For this week'sOur Vancouvershow, with the theme ofinnovation,host Gloria Macarenkospeaks to the man in charge of inventing new products and championingtheir uniqueness for the Little Potato Company.

The company is Canada-wide, but Richard Vannworks in Vancouver. He's one of the team of potatoenthusiasts dedicated to making the world a better place by feeding people better food.

"We talk to a lot of families and a lot of customers about what they are looking for," he said.

"What we've learned is that you can innovate in the field and the farm that's a huge part of our business. And we look at the convenience."

Unlike baby potatoes or nuggets which are harvested early, Little Potatoes are fully mature.

The variety is called a creamer and it was first grown by company founder Angela Santigo and her father Jacob in their small plot outside of Edmonton, Alta.

The company says ithas a creamier texture than other varieties.

Today, The Little Potato Company owns exclusive rights to seven varieties that the company founder sourcesfrom places around the globe.

The potatoes are grown in Canada. Some of the varieties were developed over many years, says Vann.

"It's helping nature a little bit, but the old fashioned way of just crossing the plants," he said.

"You try thousands and thousands of different crosses and finally you come up with something that has a unique characteristic."

For example, Vann says there is a potato variety originallyfrom Chile that has a slight nutty flavour.

But it's not just the taste that the company toolswith packaging makes a huge difference in getting noticed in the retail space.

Innovation is vital to selling common food items, saysVann.

"A lotof people think of potatoes as big bland and boring but really they are not," he said.

Vann says the company has found a unique way into grocery stores by lobbying to have potatoes packaged differently. They sell them in smaller convenience packs aimed at busy working parents, some with oil and spices included.