Sainsbury’s is continuing its campaign to bring locally grown new potatoes into its stores in Cornwall.

Local farmers will be delivering fresh potatoes into selected stores within hours of them being harvested, the retailer claimed, keeping food miles to a minimum.

This is the third year that Sainsbury’s, Greenvale AP and Cornish growers have collaborated in this scheme in what is fast becoming a popular UK wide initiative.

This year 29 stores across the UK from Cornwall to Edinburgh will be taking part in the scheme, a large increase on the 13 stores in 2004.

Potatoes will be available in the store for a limited period offering Sainsbury’s shoppers an opportunity to taste locally grown produce fresh from the field.

John Maylam, senior produce buyer, said: “Sainsbury’s were the first major retailer to run a scheme of this nature across the UK.

”Providing the best quality of produce has always been a priority for Sainsbury’s and to be able to do this by using locally grown potatoes is an added benefit to our customers. We are proud to support the British farmer by bringing locally grown produce into our stores.”

Richard Griffith, of Greenvale AP, said “This is looking like one of the best crops of locally grown new potatoes that I have seen grown for many years.

|In many areas the harvesting of the potatoes is beginning at 5.00 in the morning with the potatoes being delivered to the store by 7.00. I am very proud of the crop and the shoppers reaction has made all of the hard work worthwhile.”

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