Super spuds
6:41pm Monday 12th May 2008
Co-operative customers in South Wales were the first shoppers in the country to pick up new-season Welsh potatoes last weekend.
The Co-operative is the first supermarket to stock the new crop this year and ten stores in south Wales received the first potatoes, including Lampeter, Kilgetty and Neyland.
Walter Simon supplies Pembrokeshire potatoes to The Co-operative.
His potatoes are grown on land where habitats are protected and enhanced under the Tir Gofal scheme.
Walter said: "I'm pleased to be part of the Tir Gofal scheme and to be able to bring Co-operative customers the benefits of farming in this way.
"The family has been involved in growing potatoes for over 50 years. The climate and the light, shallow soil produce fresh, sweet new potatoes, year on year."
Neil Moorcroft, category buyer for potatoes at The Co-operative Group, added: "We work closely with our suppliers and growers to ensure we offer our customers high-quality, locally-grown seasonal produce.
"All our suppliers produce to the highest standards and it's great when growers go one step further, like farming under the Tir Gofal scheme. The delicate flavour of the Pembrokeshire new potatoes is really impressive."