The earliest ever supply of Jersey Royal potatoes reached the UK mainland on 1 March going into selected Marks & Spencer stores.

The Jersey Royal Company’s production director Barrie Hamel said: “We are well aware of the UK mainland’s problems over the past 12 months and have been working continuously to ensure the potatoes are ready to supplement the UK supply.

'Our advanced planting techniques have enabled us to grow and harvest earlier than ever before whilst maintaining Jersey Royal’s unique taste and kidney shape.”

The unprecedented showing; over three weeks earlier than predicted, has been eagerly awaited by growers with many on the financial brink due to last year’s poor weather conditions which caused record low yields.

The Jersey Royal season traditionally runs from mid April until June. The potatoes account for 80 per cent of the island’s fresh produce exports.

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