English new potatoes are finally coming on stream to boost availability from Jersey, and are already achieving high prices.
Growers in Cornwall have just started lifting over the past week according to one trade source and Kent is due to come on stream next week, although some very early supplies appeared on New Spitalfields market earlier this week and made 50p per lb.
Marketeers from Jersey said the island’s crop of Jersey Royals is performing well, despite having to contend with adverse conditions.
“The message is that in light of everything the crop has suffered, quality is remarkable and we have been really pretty happy with it,” said William Church, commercial manager of the Jersey Royal Company. “We have not experienced any quality issues or had any concerns from our customers.
“We have also had very positive consumer media coverage and PR and we welcome all that support. We still have about five to six weeks of the season to run as we have sequential plantings and we are lifting fresh potatoes every day.”
Prices have been coming down as volume picked up and whereas last week Jersey Royals were commanding 110p/kg on New Spitalfields, Western International, Covent Garden and Liverpool markets, prices this week ranged from 66-88p/kg.
Yields are down as a lack of rainfall - for an eight-week period in April and May - has meant that tubers have failed to bulk up as much as usual. It has also made the harvest slower and heavier going in places.
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