The Potato Queen visits GRIMME and we look ahead to the new term
Elena Heckl visited GRIMME in Damme—in the future, Julia Grabler will represent the potato industry as the Bavarian Potato Queen.
Published on July 10, 2026 - from Rika Wessels
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Elena Heckl, the Bavarian Potato Queen, to our main facility in Damme!
During a factory tour, she gained fascinating insights into the development and production of modern potato technology. The focus was on personal exchanges, current topics related to potato cultivation, and a behind-the-scenes look at GRIMME.
We were particularly pleased with the open discussions and our shared interest in the future of the potato industry. Encounters like these demonstrate how important dialogue is between agriculture, the industry, and technology.
Just a few days after her visit, Elena’s reign as Bavarian Potato Queen came to an end. During the coronation ceremony in Schrobenhausen, she handed over her crown and sash to her successor, Julia Grabler, who will represent the industry as the 48th Bavarian Potato Queen. The 23-year-old comes from a family-run farm in Hollenbach that grows potatoes, among other crops. As a longtime potato enthusiast, she is ideally suited for her new role.
We look forward to accompanying Julia during her reign and supporting the important work of promoting the potato industry and raising its profile. At the same time, we would like to thank Elena for her visit to Damme and the interesting conversations we had.
We wish Julia a successful start in her new role and look forward to working with her in the future!