Irlanda del Norte: Late potato harvest for Comber Earlies growers
The new season Comber potato has protected EU status as only potatoes planted, grown and harvested within the protected geographical indicated area can be marketed as Comber Earlies and only potatoes harvested in May, June and July are eligible .
Their arrival usually signals the start of summer but the Comber Earlies are not so early this year.
Co Down producer Hugh Chambers’ family has been growing the variety of spud for two generations.
“There’s been potatoes in this particular area since 1942/43,” he said.
“We plant those potatoes any time after 1 January if weather conditions allow, we hope to dig them in the last week in May usually.
“This year has been a bit more difficult because of late frost in May which destroyed a lot of potatoes in this area. Because this [crop] is out in the middle of Strangford Lough we escaped, we didn’t get any frosted leaves at all.”
After all the potatoes have been dug up, they are collected from the farm and taken to be packed and supplied to local supermarkets.
“You are talking plough to plate in less than 48 hours,” Angus Wilson of Wilson’s Country explained.
As soon as Hugh finishes harvesting his first field he will move onto another and this will continue right up until Halloween.
Fuente: http://www.u.tv/News/2015/06/09/
