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There are around thirteen European truffle varieties of commercial interest. Three are already grown in Australia, and the fourth, Tuber Magnatum, has not been grown outside of Italy. 

The first European truffle to be grown outside of Europe was the Tuber Melanosporum.  This was first grown in New Zealand in 1993, and Australia was able to follow quickly in 1998. We then used what we had learnt to cultivate two more varieties. The race is now to see who can grow the Tuber magnatum outside Italy. It takes over five years, from planting trees to harvesting a truffle, so we could wait a long time.

Potatoes have successfully been farmed in Australia since 1793 (Felix Delahaye's garden in Recherche Bay, Tasmania. More on this another day). The early settlers planted them as a crop in Australia in 1829. We also had a bush potato that was grown by the Aboriginals. Potatoes, unlike truffles, have been successfully homegrown for years. It is hard to ascertain precisely where the two thousand nine hundred and forty non-commercially grown varieties are. Some will be favourites grown in home gardens or dormant in garden sheds and garages. Some of these were most likely brought into Australia illegally to be grown in backyard gardens. These are not favoured for commercial production.   Some potatoes will be heirloom varieties, and many are held in Australia's various gene banks. Australia, as a signatory to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, is responsible for ensuring the sustainable use of plant genetic resources and sharing these.