First season potatoes harvested in Northern Ireland

The first New Season Comber Earlies, one of only three Northern Irish foods to have achieved EU Protected Geographic Indicator status, have been harvested and are now on sale, according to Angus Wilson, managing director of leading potato packer Wilson's Country.

Based in a purpose-built processing and packing plant at Portadown, county Armagh, Wilson's Country is now supplying the potatoes, most of which are produced by fewer than 20 farmers in the Comber/Strangford region of county Down, to major supermarkets and describes both the quality and flavour as "excellent".

"It's been a great growing season this year for the earlies with plenty of sunshine over the past few months and just the right amount of rainfall to provide the necessary moisture while maintaining the distinctive texture. There's quite a bit of interest in the earlies. We've had a number of new requests for the potatoes this year. Indeed, overall interest in potatoes among the general public and foodservice is strengthening," Mr Wilson adds.

The historic Comber Early is traditionally the first harvested in the region's potato season. The harvest usually runs for about six weeks and features a major three-day food festival held annually around the small town of Comber, where the milder climate and fertile soil provide ideal growing conditions for the potatoes. The short growing season means earlies can be expensive to grow and usually requires covering the crop with plastic.

The first earlies are usually harvested in small quantities and eaten straight away when fresh boiled and with creamy butter in June and July. Second earlies and salad varieties can also be harvested in small quantities and eaten when fresh in June and July. The first season potatoes are usually popular with local restaurants.

New Season Comber Potatoes were granted PGI status in 2013, following similar recognition for Lough Neagh Eels. Armagh Bramley apples subsequently gained PGI status. All three products are celebrated at food festivals throughout Northern Ireland. Several applications are also in the pipeline.

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'.

The award to Comber potatoes followed an extensive lobbying campaign spearheaded by the Northern Ireland Potato Stakeholder Forum to achieve European recognition of the unique micro-climate and growing conditions around the region, which features a generally warmer and sandier soil, an absence of frost and the longest growing season of more than 270 days.

The potato industry has also organised a series of marketing initiatives such as the 'Mighty Spud' competition to expand sales, especially among younger consumers.

Wilson's Country has been at the forefront of new product initiatives to boost sales of potatoes, including its funky You Say Potato branded range of pre-prepared packs of microwavable and oven-ready convenience products. These have boosted sales and profits.

"We have been delighted with the support from retailers and the way consumers have embraced our new products," Mr Wilson adds. "We are in ongoing discussions with our customers in relation to further possible listings. Founded in 1986 by Mr Wilson, the company employs a workforce of about 70.