Vegetable supplier Produce World has launched organic Maris Piper potatoes into select Waitrose stores for the first time.
Despite being a popular and widely-grown potato, Maris Piper has proven difficult to grow organically, Produce World said, but growers have succeeded this season due to the low blight pressure.
It will be stocked from today (28 October) under Produce World’s Nature’s Premium brand in 40 Waitrose stores.
Gemma Hodgson, Waitrose fresh produce buyer, said: “Maris Pipers are one of our shoppers' favourite varieties as they are perfect for mash and brilliant for baking, producing a deliciously crispy skin.
“And so it seems a little strange to be talking about innovation when it comes to such a well-known potato. Our growers have been working hard to make an organic crop a reality as Maris Pipers are a particularly tricky variety to produce. This means we are particularly excited to see them on our shelves for the first time.'
Produce World’s agronomy manager, Simon Faulkner, said: “The main challenge is avoiding potato blight. When you are growing organically we can’t use fungicides to prevent blight. This particular variety is late maturing and therefore particular prone to that disease, but thankfully this season there has been low blight pressure.
“At the same time we have had to plan carefully to get just the right location that provides good fertility and availability of water, while reducing the risk of blight. This means avoiding growing our organic Maris Piper in close proximity to other potatoes.”
Produce World has worked closely with its grower partner A.E. Lenton in producing the organic Maris Piper.
