A vast stockpile of potatoes is being given away for free by a farm in the German state of Saxony, after a bumper national harvest.
Thousands of tasty tubers have been rolling into the country's capital, Berlin, since mid-January, with residents risking icy streets to bag their share.
Dubbed 'the great potato rescue,' it is part of a plan to stop about 4 million kg (8.8 million lb) of surplus spuds from going to ruin. Food banks, schools, and churches are among the beneficiaries, according to organisers.
However, the enterprise was labelled a 'disgusting PR stunt' by the Brandenburg Farmers' Association, which lamented the impact on local markets.
Germany is the European Union's potato-producing capital, and last year's harvest has left the market saturated.
Ultimately, it is about 'putting the potato in the spotlight as a valuable food,' said Berliner Morgenpost editor, Peter Schink, who helped spearhead the plan.
The newspaper teamed up with the eco-friendly search engine firm, Ecosia, to co-ordinate and fund the distribution of the spuds.
Not wishing to discard their 'magnificent tubers,' Osterland Agrar says it plans to deliver around 500,000 kg to Berlin and other parts of Germany and Ukraine.
'We can store them until the middle of this year,' stated Hans-Joachim von Massow, Managing Director of Osterland Agrar.
But not everyone is celebrating. Timo Scheib from the Brandenburg Farmers' Association expressed concerns over the implications for food value.
In Berlin, a special website lists 174 spud-hubs in and around the capital.
Despite some initial enthusiasm, recent reports suggest that the influx of free potatoes may be dwindling as funds run low.
As Germany continues to grapple with food waste, initiatives like this one seek to promote sustainability while addressing local needs.
