ASDA brings county produce to county shelves (From Western Telegraph)

ASDA brings county produce to county shelves

Potatoes grown in Pembrokeshire for Haverfordwest-based supply co-operative, Puffin Produce, will be on sale at the county's new ASDA store all year round.

Puffin growers have been supplying the retailer's Welsh stores for nearly two years, but their potatoes haven't been available locally because the supermarket chain had no presence west of Llanelli.

That has now changed with the opening of the new ASDA store at Pembroke Dock. Puffin chairman and grower Richard Hayman, of Norton Farm, Rosemarket, said ASDA's presence in Pembrokeshire was good news for producers.

"The growers spend a lot of time looking after their crop so to see the finished product on the shelves is a great boost for them," he said. "It brings the growers a lot closer to their customers."

All the potato lines on sale at the Pembroke Dock store are grown in Wales for Puffin, except for the early new potatoes now on sale.

The Pembrokeshire crop won't be harvested until May 7th, so ASDA has imported earlies from Israel. These potatoes are packed for sale at Puffin's Withybush packhouse.

Continual investment by both Puffin growers and the co-operative means they can achieve the high quality specifications demanded by the consumer.

Grower William Richards, of Windmill Park, St Brides, said it was very much a partnership approach.

"There have been big changes in the type of product the consumer demands, every type of potato on sale at ASDA is washed and packed. Puffin has invested heavily on behalf of its suppliers to make certain we reach the specification the market demands," said Mr Richards, who grows 50 acres of mainly earlies.

ASDA produce manager Patrick Hurley, said the company's commitment to local produce was good for everyone involved.

"We have an excellent supply of quality potatoes from Puffin, which is good for us and the customer and it means that we can support local growers,'' he said.