Jersey Royal new potato prices in 2015

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I know that this particular crop is regarded highly, but yesterday we saw some of these in a 500g sealed bag in Marks and Spencer, Handforth Dean store, retailing at £4.00. Does that seem a tad "over the top"?

 

[Busaholic]

I've noticed that in recent years when Jersey Royals first come into season they are an exorbitant price (I believe M&S 'only' charged £3 for an equivalent sized bag last year). This is so that they can charge 'half price' at some date in the near future. Anyway, I don't believe the quality of Jersey Royals is anything like it was: my wife, who knows a lot more about these things than me, says you should be able to remove residual dirt with your thumbnail and you can no longer do this, also they just don't look right. Could it be that more Jersey Royals are sold than actually grown? Besides, our local Cornish earlies are superior in taste, at a fraction of the price, though recent wet conditions mean we probably won't see them anytime soon.

 

[Diplodicus]

My dear old Mum was making the same complaint sixty years ago!

 

[Greenback]

Like Stella Artois, they are just reassuringly expensive.

 

[DarloRich]

I know that this particular crop is regarded highly, but yesterday we saw some of these in a 500g sealed bag in Marks and Spencer, Handforth Dean (note: Location= Wlimslow, Cheshire) store, retailing at £4.00. Does that seem a tad "over the top"?

Paul, if I may, there are two clues in your post suggesting a reason for the price. I have taken the liberty of marking your post up and annotating it slightly


Morrisons in Middlesbrough will be cheaper - aka "you pay for quality"

 

[yorksrob]

I always think it's a wasted opportunity to eat a "new" potato before it's had the chance to grow into something much more worthwhile - like a chip or a roastie !

 

[Busaholic]

I always think it's a wasted opportunity to eat a "new" potato before it's had the chance to grow into something much more worthwhile - like a chip or a roastie !

Sacrilege

 

[Oswyntail]

I always think it's a wasted opportunity to eat a "new" potato before it's had the chance to grow into something much more worthwhile - like a chip or a roastie !

You cannot really make a chip or roastie from "new" breeds - they have a firm, waxy flesh, whereas roasties and chips need the flesh to collapse and become floury so as to become truly crisp. Of course you can fry or roast new potatoes, but they become different beasts entirely.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The grower's name of John Perchard is shown upon the label. I wonder how much Marks and Spencer paid him per kilo for these particular type of potatoes?
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I always think it's a wasted opportunity to eat a "new" potato before it's had the chance to grow into something much more worthwhile - like a chip or a roastie !

Perhaps Jersey New Potatoes with their unique taste are seen more as a gourmet addition to the early season meal table rather than the more mundane varieties which can be used in the way you so describe.

Patricia and I will be enjoying these Jersey crop-offerings together with some Aberdeen Angus rib-eye steak very shortly this evening.

 

[yorksrob]

You cannot really make a chip or roastie from "new" breeds - they have a firm, waxy flesh, whereas roasties and chips need the flesh to collapse and become floury so as to become truly crisp. Of course you can fry or roast new potatoes, but they become different beasts entirely.

You mean they don't grow into proper potatoes :cry:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The grower's name of John Perchard is shown upon the label. I wonder how much Marks and Spencer paid him per kilo for these particular type of potatoes?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Perhaps Jersey New Potatoes with their unique taste are seen more as a gourmet addition to the early season meal table rather than the more mundane varieties which can be used in the way you so describe.

Patricia and I will be enjoying these Jersey crop-offerings together with some Aberdeen Angus rib-eye steak very shortly this evening.

Mmm that does sound nice.

Think I'd still prefer it with chips and prawn cocktail for starters though

 

[Greenback]

Don't forget the black forest gateau for dessert as well!

 

[yorksrob]

Don't forget the black forest gateau for dessert as well!

Ah well, yes, that is the custom. I'm afraid I'm more of a trifle man myself though

 

[gazthomas]

Paul, are you prepared for this years British asparagus? Start saving!

 

[Kite159]

I've noticed that in recent years when Jersey Royals first come into season they are an exorbitant price (I believe M&S 'only' charged £3 for an equivalent sized bag last year). This is so that they can charge 'half price' at some date in the near future. Anyway, I don't believe the quality of Jersey Royals is anything like it was: my wife, who knows a lot more about these things than me, says you should be able to remove residual dirt with your thumbnail and you can no longer do this, also they just don't look right. Could it be that more Jersey Royals are sold than actually grown? Besides, our local Cornish earlies are superior in taste, at a fraction of the price, though recent wet conditions mean we probably won't see them anytime soon.

IIRC when I went out for a long weekend in Jersey in 2013 and did a little tour of the island, the guide mentioned that the Royals which are growth to be sold abroad are different to Royals growth for domestic use, mainly the domestic potatoes use seaweed.

Although not having the chance to taste a "domestic" and "international" potato to compare I can't say if the seaweed makes any sort of difference.

 

[Clip]

#firstworldproblems Paul!!

Hope your steak was good though.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Don't forget the black forest gateau for dessert as well!

Now then, that's definitely what I call "giving your age away"...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

IIRC when I went out for a long weekend in Jersey in 2013 and did a little tour of the island, the guide mentioned that the Royals which are growth to be sold abroad are different to Royals growth for domestic use, mainly the domestic potatoes use seaweed.

Although not having the chance to taste a "domestic" and "international" potato to compare I can't say if the seaweed makes any sort of difference.

As ever, I am a mine of totally normally useless information, but I can venture the fact that after the Second World War, on 10th May 1948, a postage stamp issue covering all the Channel Islands was made, with oblong-shaped stamps with head of King George VI (1d Red / 2 1/2d Blue) that showed scenes of islanders gathering vraic (seaweed) for use as crop fertiliser.

 

[me123]

I know that this particular crop is regarded highly, but yesterday we saw some of these in a 500g sealed bag in Marks and Spencer, Handforth Dean store, retailing at £4.00. Does that seem a tad "over the top"?

Don't get yourself too worried.

When I worked in a supermarket (on the tills), I remember when the Jersey Royals came in. At the start of the season, they'd be very expensive for a couple of weeks. Then, they'd slash it to half price and proudly boast about this amazing offer. They did the same with cherries (they always started a £9.99/kg and dropped for the rest of the season to "half price").

Only a few people (mostly those who particularly wanted the product) would buy it at the higher price. The supermarket stocked up accordingly. They don't expect you to pay £4 for Jersey Royals. They're gearing up for a few weeks time, when it'll be £2.50 or something. (Hopefully, anyway!).

 

[Kite159]

Don't get yourself too worried.

When I worked in a supermarket (on the tills), I remember when the Jersey Royals came in. At the start of the season, they'd be very expensive for a couple of weeks. Then, they'd slash it to half price and proudly boast about this amazing offer. They did the same with cherries (they always started a £9.99/kg and dropped for the rest of the season to "half price").

Only a few people (mostly those who particularly wanted the product) would buy it at the higher price. The supermarket stocked up accordingly. They don't expect you to pay £4 for Jersey Royals. They're gearing up for a few weeks time, when it'll be £2.50 or something. (Hopefully, anyway!).

Makes sense, I spot a similar thing happening with the tins of chocolates, normally going on sale around July/August time for £10+, only to be slashed to "half-price" when they start picking up sales for Christmas.

 

[Bevan Price]

Paul, if I may, there are two clues in your post suggesting a reason for the price. I have taken the liberty of marking your post up and annotating it slightly


Morrisons in Middlesbrough will be cheaper - aka "you pay for quality"

And probably even cheaper in any local market, although you will probably get some potatoes rejected by supermarkets for the sole reason that they are not perfectly shaped.

 

[Ploughman]

Trade price suggests between £122 and £85 per tonne.
At 40 sacks / Tonne that equates to around £2 - £3 per 25kg sack.
Driving around the area it is quite common to see farmgate prices of about £5.

£5 was what I was selling spud bags for between 1983 and 1985.
Maybe a bit of a premium on top for Jersey Royals but not that much more.

If I remember correctly the average price per tonne in 83-85 was approx £44 but there was a short period when prices rocketed up and some varieties were selling at £16 per 25kg sack.