Jersey Royal plantings are ahead of schedule, despite recent wet weather calling a halt to work on the island.
Better conditions earlier in the year allowed growers to get a good start on planting, said the Jersey Royal Potato Marketing company.
Tom Binet, managing director of JPRM, said they were expecting between 30,000 and 35,000 tonnes this year, and early, small volumes of indoor crops were expected to come on stream around now.
Tim Ward, sales manager, said: “We had around 38,000t last year and volumes will be similar, but if we get any ground frost, then that could change everything.”
This season the company is expecting to see increased emphasis on washed product. Ward said: “We’re doing a lot more washing at source and we’ve just invested in a second high-volume wash line.”
Promotion will also be a key part of the campaign, and a second ad campaign will be underway this season, although Mike Tait, from Jersey economic development, said they were still discussing the finer details.
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