Get ready to boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew, because pot-a-toes are officially back in the NT.

In February this year, Zerella Holdings announced its intention to bring potato farming back to the Northern Territory, lodging a land clearing application for a seed potato farm outside of Katherine.

The intention was to produce seed potatoes in the NT and grow the food-grade potatoes on Zerella's 50,000-hectare operation in the Mallee region of SA.

In May, the company planted its first pivot-irrigated crop of low-carbohydrate Maranca variety at its newly established Katherine farm.

Big swings produce big results, it seems, and now Zerella are now days away from the first commercial potato harvest in the NT in around 20 years.

Interviewed by the ABC, Zerella's Katherine Farm Manager, Jacob Pye, said that conditions had been excellent for the operation.

"It's a nice, fast, growing season with a good mix of soils for growing potatoes," Mr Pye said.

He said a shorter production window meant the work could be completed before the wet season.

Potatoes haven't yet been commercially viable in the Northern Territory due to high input costs and competition from established operations interstate – a barrier Zerella might have broken.

Pests Come For Pot-ay-to Production

Zerella's foray into the NT hasn't been without issue, with feral pigs damaging a portion of the crop. However, the company is confident that they can manage the impact and reduce any threat to production.

"Being from New Zealand, I've never really heard of pigs getting into your potatoes, so that was a bit of a bit of an eye-opener for me, personally," Mr Pye told the ABC.

"They sort of just root up the ground a bit, looking for that moisture, that's all they sort of want.

"It's not like they're wiping out a whole pivot or anything — they have a little bit of a nibble on the end, maybe, but that would be about it."

A processing plant and cool room facility are also being built on the site.

Sources: ABC, ABC