New Season Comber Potatoes win European protection


Northern Ireland's new season Comber potatoes have been granted European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. The early season potatoes follow the region's Lough Neagh Eels in gaining European name protection last year.



The granting of PGI status under European law means that only new season potatoes harvested from fields around Comber in County Down can now be marketed as 'new season Comber potatoes' or 'Comber earlies'.



Bramley apple growers in County Armagh expect to be the next in Northern Ireland to be awarded protected name status.



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 soil and the longest growing season of more than 270 days.



There are currently 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.



They have been grown since the early 17thcentury 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 are the first available in Northern Ireland.