A DRY season which saw millions invested in advertising Jersey Royals was interrupted last week when growers weren’t able to export potatoes on Saturday night – because the freight ship had been diverted to Guernsey for the Muratti Vase.
Philip Le Maistre of Master Farms – a mixed dairy and vegetable farm who grow potatoes – said the year had been “much drier” than previous years.
Wheat and barley were growing “really well”, he said. With the dry weather, potatoes were growing well but risked looking “old” by the end of the day they were picked on.
But farmers found themselves unable to export potatoes at the peak of Jersey Royal season when DFDS redirected one of its ships on to travel to Guernsey for the Muratti Vase, cancelling one freight and one passenger crossing to Portsmouth.
The cancelled freight sailing meant potato growers weren’t able to export potatoes picked that morning on a key sailing at the peak of the season.
Mr Le Maistre said: “It was very frustrating, to be honest, to be told at such late notice. That severely impacts the potatoes.”
Growers are told in the morning how big an order they have received. Potatoes are picked and packed the same day, brought to the harbour, and put on the evening ferry to Portsmouth.
They are in shops 24 to 36 hours later.
The cancellation meant orders were lost and the potatoes stayed in the ground.
Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Murray Norton agreed that growers “were not given enough time to change their arrangements for loading and transporting produce”.
He said: “We are just entering the peak season for exporting Jersey Royals to the UK and cancelling the Friday night sailing to the UK could cost the businesses involved in growing, processing and exporting potatoes hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
“We understand and appreciate the intension to give football fans the opportunity to watch the Muratti Vase final and others in the community the chance to visit Guernsey, but businesses that will be affected were not consulted and the clear economic effects were not considered.”
The JEP contacted DFDS, but the ferry company refused to comment.
Mr Le Maistre explained that the weather was becoming more unpredictable and extreme. Farmers now “farming by the weather rather than by the calendar”, he said.
“No two years are the same now.
“We are definitely seeing more extremes.
“It’s all about keeping the product fresh and getting them to the customer as quick as possible.”
Albert Bartlett launched a £3 million advertising campaign in April, with adverts on TV, online and in London Underground Stations with the slogan “Roll on Jersey Royal Season”.
The Jersey Farmers Union President, Dougie Richardson, said the year had seen “a slow start, by all accounts” but that things improved when the advertising campaign kicked in.
He and Mr Le Maistre agreed that the campaign had resonated with viewers.
Warm weather makes orders increase, Mr Le Maistre added, as people make potato salad and hold barbecues in the sunshine.
A cold April meant they were more interested in baked potatoes – but that tide has turned and Royals are on the menu.
Ideal weather for farmers was 3 or 4 mm of rain at night followed by a sunny day, Mr Le Maistre said.
Mr Richardson added: “It looks like the industry is where it needs to be at this time.”
“So far, so good,” he said, adding: “We’ve had no disease threatening or anything like that.”
From here, he hoped the industry would “keep the momentum going” with no more disruptions.
“Let’s get them where they need to be, off the ground and in those mouths.”
