Suffolk Farmer Celebrates New Potato Season

¹Visitors to James Foskett Farms Ltd, Woodbridge were today (Thurs 4th June) given the chance to see exactly what is involved in producing one of Suffolk’s, and Britain’s, best loved foods – the potato.  To celebrate the start of the new potato season, members of the media were invited to join grower James Foskett at his Woodbridge farm.  During the morning they had the chance to meet James, watch as new potatoes were harvested, and see for themselves the new potato growing process from field to fork – rounded off with a tasting of freshly dug Vales Emerald potatoes. See the journey from feild to fork for yourself here.

Farmer James Foskett is just one of 615 potato growers in the East of England, who work hard throughout the year growing our potatoes. Using supplier Greenvale AP, James Foskett Farms Ltd delivers Suffolk potatoes into the major supermarkets. Over 34,000 hectares of potatoes are grown in the East of England.  A fifth of these are grown in Suffolk – covering an area 1,460 times the size of the roof on the new Wembley Stadium. 

As well as a celebration of the new season, there was a more serious side to the day.  Although British new potatoes are a truly local crop, grown and harvested from Suffolk to Scotland, Cornwall to Kent, and Wales to Cheshire, recent Potato Council research has shown that it is the older generation who are driving the current growth in potato sales ¹ . Young families meanwhile are still missing the benefits that potatoes provide.

Following the event James Foskett said: “We must encourage young mums to eat more potatoes or the long term implications for the British potato industry could be significant.  Highlighting the work we do growing and harvesting potatoes is a key way of doing this so I’m glad that we were able to show visitors the work we do here at James Foskett Farms Ltd.”

New potatoes offer a simple solution to family mealtimes that can deliver the whole family tasty, healthy meals in minutes.  One kilo of new potatoes, costing as little as 77 pence* can be used to make up to five meals.  Despite this, recent Potato Council research shows that four in five mums of young children² questioned didn’t know that the first British new potatoes are harvested in May, and 60 per cent said they had no idea where new potatoes are grown³.  

While 23 per cent of mums said they like supporting British farmers, over a third of mums with young children claimed the new potato season was not important to them .  Yet new potatoes are full of goodness and nutrients, essential for adults and children alike. A portion of new potatoes provides 66% of an adult’s recommended daily amount of vitamin C.  Potatoes are also a natural source of energy, which provides fuel for the brain and the body – perfect for growing kids.

James, who last week arranged for newly harvested Vales Emerald potatoes to be delivered in to top London restaurants, added:  “As well as being a vital part of the Suffolk and British economy, British potatoes are great value! A portion of new potatoes costs around just 13p and can be used to make so many easy family dinners from stir fries to salads.” 

¹ Housewives aged over 45 account for 66% of the fresh potato spend. TNS 52wks w/e 25th Jan 2009
² Mums with children under 11
³ Only 12% of +56 year olds weren’t able to say when the season begins and many could identify key growing regions (46% correctly named Lincolnshire and 35% named Cornwall as two of the growing regions) compared to 15% of mothers with young children who knew that potatoes were grown in Cornwall and 13% in Lincolnshire.)  online survey during May 2009 by OnePoll - 2,014 respondents
¹¹ The survey was conducted online during May 2009 by OnePoll with 2,014 respondents

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