UK couple reviving heritage potatoes

They were growing modern varieties, with the emphasis on volume and regularity. The requirement was to produce white, round potatoes and not always to achieve great flavour or cooking qualities.

In 2000 they experimented with a new approach, growing 0.4 hectares of four older varieties; Arran Victory 1916 , Pink Fir Apple 1850, Red Duke of York 1942 and Red King Edward 1916.

They took the resulting crop to Berwick-upon-Tweed farmers’ market and received a positive response. And so their new company was born.

Mrs Carroll focused on the marketing – a particular challenge due to the small amounts they were producing – while Mr Carroll focused on the growing, confronting the challenges brought about by low yields, poor resistance to blight and strange shapes and sizes.

Demand was so high that, despite these challenges, each year since they have increased the amount of heritage potatoes they produce.

Winning last year’s Arable Innovator of the Year award, at the British Farming Awards, has helped the Carrolls to keep pushing forward. “It was very exciting,” says Mrs Carroll. “It was rewarding because we’ve worked so hard and it’s our passion.”

Challenge

The potatoes do not go through the wholesale market as most people have not heard of the varieties.

With the varieties chosen, the pair are now developing their packing system and purchasing a new packer and a new washer. There are also plans to improve our storage system.

“The only supermarket we work with is Booths and we have a good relationship because we work directly with them.”

As the business is set to grow, future plans include the growth of organic heritage potatoes, and half their land is currently being converted to organic status.

“We think there’s a market for them, but for now we’re growing them conventionally,” he says.