Potato Question

[JMR27]

For potatoes to be labelled as 'Jersey Royals' do they have to be grown on the island of Jersey?

[Mr Veritas]

The short answer is Yes.
Although Jersey is not in the EU,it can take advantage of EU Protected Designation of Origin Legislation.
It has chosen (and succeeded) with Jersey Royals.
These potatoes must be grown on Jersey,in fact they cannot be called Jersey Royals if even grown on Guernsey or any of the other Channel Islands.
This is from Jersey Royals own website:~

"Furthermore, when you see the name Jersey Royals, you know that you can trust you�re
buying quality, as they are the only vegetable to have Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
status, meaning they can only be grown in Jersey. They are often referred to as the
�champagne of the potato world� by people who care about where their food comes from."
Here is full page if you want to look at it:~
http://www.jerseyroyals.co.uk/uploads/389873.p df

[JMR27]

Hi Mr Veritas thank you very much for your answer and for going to the trouble of posting a link - much appreciated. I just find it hard to understand how an island measuring some 45 sq miles, presumably with a fair amount of that area given over to roads and housing,can produce enough potatoes to stock every supermarket and greengrocer in the UK with potatoes.

[Mr Veritas]

I think the problem may be that you can describe new potatoes as "Jersey's" and not contravene the EU Regulations,what you cannot do is describe them as "Jersey Royals".
I have a feeling (unsubstantiated) that there may be a variety of early potato, called Jersey?

[angiealf]

JMR27. Re- your question on how can a small island grow so many spuds - Have a look at Jersey on Google Maps, you will see that in the country, away from built up areas there are LOADS of fields. This is where the spuds are grown, LOADS of spuds. I'm a Jersey Bean and wouldn't live anywhere else. Come and visit our beautiful island.

[JMR27]

Thanks for the extra info Mr Veritas. Every time I've seen potatoes labelled as 'Jerseys' I've presumed they too have originated from the island of Jersey. Potato query now sorted. :o)
Hi angiealf - what a beautiful place to live! We were going to have a holiday in Jersey a couple of years ago until we discovered how much it would cost just for a week. (We ended up doing a fortnight's fly-drive in the U.S. for just a few hundred pounds more). We live near St Andrews - had we lived down south we would have visited the Channel Islands years ago.
Thanks to you both, regards, Judy

[phizzy]

bit late i know, but just in case there's someone out there who doesn't know, the wonderful flavour you get with 'Jersey Royals' come from the sea weed that is used to fertilise the ground where the potatoes are grown, sorry if you all knew this. - Bon Appe' thingy.

[JMR27]

Thanks phizzy:o)