Launch of new potato season marked in county (From Western Telegraph)

Launch of new potato season marked in county

The British Potato Council will be turning its spotlight on to Pembrokeshire this month to herald the arrival of the new potato.

Token liftings of this seasons crop started in Pembrokeshire last week and farmers supplying the Haverfordwest-based co-operative, Puffin Produce, began harvesting yesterday (Tuesday).

But the national launch of the new potato season wont begin until May 16th, when a two-day programme of events has been organised by the British Potato Council.

On Friday, May 17th, children from Fenton CP School, Havefordwest, will be discovering what it takes to get potatoes fresh from the field onto their plates.

As part of its commitment to education, the BPC has arranged for a local grower and packer to visit the school to take youngsters through the production cycle.

The children will get the chance to have hands-on experience when they dig up their own new potatoes planted in the school garden.

That day, shoppers will also have the chance to meet local growers and packers at the Haverfordwest branch of Tesco to learn more about Welsh new potatoes.

They will be able to taste the new crop for themselves with free samples and recipe booklets from the BPC bus.

New potatoes are a valuable source of agricultural income for Pembrokeshire and are worth over £3 million to the Welsh economy.