Marks and Spencer symbolically delivered its first Jersey Royals of the season by tractor to its Marble Arch store on Wednesday, backed by the claim from Hugh Mowat, technologist, that it is the first supermarket to get the 2006 season underway.
Three other branches at Kings Road, Bayswater and Rickmansworth also stocked the first arrival of 500g pre-packs priced at £2.99, grown under polytunnels by Alan Moulin, through the Jersey Royal Potato Marketing group.
Mowat confirmed that the crop was about three weeks earlier than last year, and forecast good quality potatoes, which will be sold by M&S until July.
“Jersey Royals have a special place on M&S shelves. They are regarded as one of the most seasonal products that we sell,” he added. l
