New season Comber potatoes from Northern Ireland have been granted European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.
The granting of PGI status under European law means that only new season potatoes harvested from fields around Comber in County Down can be marketed as “new season Comber potatoes” or “Comber earlies”.
The award to Comber potatoes follows an extensive lobbying campaign spearheaded by the Northern Ireland Potato Stakeholder Forum to achieve European recognition of the unique growing conditions around Comber, a generally warmer and sandier with a long growing season of more than 270 days.
There are more than 20 Comber potato growers in Northern Ireland supplying the retail and foodservice sectors. They launched the campaign for protected status more than three years ago. Comber is not a variety of potato and can be used to describe a number of early potatoes.
It is generally a waxy potato with a loose skin and a white/cream colour inside. It has an earthy, sweet and nutty flavour and is best served boiled with lots of butter.
Comber potatoes have been grown since the early 17th century in Northern Ireland in an area dominated by Strangford Lough, the largest inlet in the British Isles, and a designated area of special scientific interest.
Comber new season potatoes are available from the beginning of May to the end of July and traditionally kick off the potato season in Northern Ireland.
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